THE big question on the lips of most Tasmanian harness racing enthusiasts is can the Rohan Hillier-trained Waiona win the Sunrise Bakery Easter Cup at The TOTE Racing Centre at Mowbray on Sunday night.
Waiona scored an impressive win in one of the two Easter Cup heats staged at Mowbray last Sunday night, scoring almost three metres from Saturday Nights and the fast-finishing Camivell Rock.
The seven-year-old gelding’s mile rate for the 2698-metre journey was 2.05.2 which was somewhat slower than that produced by the other heat winner Queen Of Fire (2.02.4).
However, Waiona was held up at a crucial stage and came off a slower tempo than Queen Of Fire that led and set a solid clip.
Waiona landed in trainer Rohan Hillier’s stable last year as a claimer with his owners hopeful of winning a couple of races just to recoup their outlay.
But Waiona has been a great money spinner for his owners with the latest triumph his sixth from 13 starts for stake earnings in Tasmania of just over $42,000.
Waiona won the Hobart Pacing Cup and should he win the Easter Cup he will become the first to snare the unique double.
Do you use Facebook? Make sure you like our new Facebook Page. Click here.