TOUCHWOOD BUCKSTA clinched a piece of Tasmania harness racing history on Saturday when he became the first pacer to win the Burnie Cup two years in succession.
There has been one other, Melfield Tyros, that has won more than one Burnie Cup since the race’s inception in 1919 but not in consecutive years.
The Clinton Woods-trained gelding has earned a reputation as a country cups specialist and this latest win was targeted some time back.
Woods said the race was pencilled in two months ago and that the plan required the appointment of a novice (claiming) driver to ensure the gelding got a lift and started off the front.
Connections booked Zeke Slater who is not only a polished reinsman but a quality trainer in his own right and he delivered the goods.
Touchwood Bucksta began brilliantly from his wide front row draw and easily found the lead.
Once in front Slater rated the nine-year-old gelding superbly and despite being strongly challenged in the final lap he found plenty over the concluding stages to score by almost 13 metres from Truly Blissfull with the well-backed Major Ruler just over two metres ay third.
The win capped a brilliant week for Slater who celebrated his biggest win as a trainer last Sunday night when his talented mare Queen Of Fire won the Devonport Cup.
Woods said he was unsure where Touchwood Bucksta would race next.
“We may aim him at a heat of the Easter Cup in Launceston or run him in the Ulverstone Cup at Devonport,” Woods said.
“The Ulverstone Cup is a C6 race which means he will get the front again so that might be the best option,” he said.