VICTORIAN harness racing trainer John Nicholson is no stranger to Tasmania, in fact he has been taking horses to the island state and winning feature races there for the past 25 years.
Last Sunday night in Launceston he was at it again. This time with talented three-year-old Ginger Bliss and six-year-old open class performer Mickey Mac that has been placed on loan to the trainer for an Easter Cup campaign.
Ginger Bliss gave his rivals a pacing lesson as he led all the way to win the $10,000 St Leger over 2200 metres.
With the trainer’s son Rhys Nicholson in the sulky, Ginger Bliss strolled over the first 1200 metres and lifted the tempo to run home his last half mile (800m) in 57.2 seconds.
Ginger Bliss hit the line over three metres clear of boom Tasmanian three-year-old Dapper Dana with the in-form Devendra just over a metre astern.
“This horse is very competitive and he’s matched it with some of the best of his age in Victoria,” Nicholson said.
“He won a consolation of the Australian pacing Gold last season and he ran second in a heat of the Victorian Derby.”
“He has got plenty of gate speed so if he draws the front he is always going to be a chance,” he said.
Ginger Bliss’ main mission is the Tasmanian Derby in Hobart on April 7.
Mickey Mac gave Nicholson a double when he won a heat of the $40,000 Easter Cup leading all the way to defeat Quastor Centurion and Givitaname.
“I told Mickey Mac’s owners that I was coming to Tasmania with my three-year-old and
I suggested to them that they should let Mickey Mac accompany him on the trip and put him in the Easter Cup (next Sunday in Launceston),” he said.
“They agreed and he’s in the final now after winning his heat but they let my horse do what he looked in front tonight and he only had to sprint home but in saying that he can roll along if he has to,” the trainer said.