Ben Rossendell holds a narrow lead after the first two heats of the 2012 BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series. The 22 year old Old Beach reinsman has accrued 18 points to be one clear of Craig Hayes and Damien Spring with Dylan Ford next on 16 points.
The BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series was developed this season to provide another avenue for claiming novice drivers to develop their driving skills. The ten participants are the five leading claiming novice drivers from 2010/11 and the remainder are those with the most life time wins.
Rossendell drove the pole marker Chloe Vargarita ($2.90) in heat one. The Bill Dornauf trained three year old filly booted through to lead at the first corner and from there Rossendell controlled the race, finishing off with a fast 28.4 last quarter on the tight Devonport circuit.
Rossendell collected 12 points for the win. His drive in the second heat was scratched resulting in another six points for a total of 18 points.
Chloe Vargarita did her early racing around southern New South Wales and north eastern Victoria where she won three from 12 starts. She arrived in Tasmania about five weeks ago and has registered another two wins from five starts.
The second heat also went to the horse drawn barrier one. The David Mace trained Our Last Knight ($7.80) was rated to perfection by Craig Hayes and led throughout to record a comfortable win from Benji Vee (Dylan Ford) and Laterron (Damien Spring). Our Last Knight was suited by the barrier draw and the race condition of lowest points selected first. Hayes got five points from the first heat after Villify finished sixth.
Heats three and four are at Hobart on Sunday night. Damien Spring (Scruffy Jake), Vincent Burke (Touchwood Teeksta) and Braden Howlett (Cesta La Vie) look well placed to pick up the top points in race one while Craig Hayes (Metro Master) and Braydon Withers (Good Beginnings) may figure in the placings in race ten. The last two heats will be at Launceston on Friday 27 April.
Points after heat two are:
18 Ben Rossendell
17 Craig Hayes, Damien Spring
16 Dylan Ford
15 Braydon Withers
12 Braden Howlett
7 Nicholas Brockman, Vincent Burke, Justin Howlett
3 Bradley Wise
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