LONGFORD trainer Troy Blacker has earmarked the Newmarket Handicap for his rising star sprinter Tennessee Drive following the gelding’s impressive win over 1000 metres at Spreyton yesterday.
Tennessee Drive was well backed to start the $2.60 favourite in a class four handicap on the synthetic surface that he has relished since he first started racing last year.
The gelding has won five of his seven starts and all of his victories have been on the Tapeta synthetic track.
He was beaten at his first start this preparation on the grass in Launceston but made amends at his subsequent outing with an emphatic win in a benchmark 72 handicap in Devonport.
Apprentice Hayley McCarthy has been aboard for all but one of his wins and yesterday she had the son of Mr. Innocent positioned perfectly on the fence behind the leaders Miss Elsa and Manchero.
She eased her mount off the fence to make his challenge turning for home and despite laying in over the concluding stages Tennessee Drive forged clear and went on to defeat the fast-finishing King’s Spirit by almost a length with Miss Elsa a similar margin away third.
“We have been very patient with this horse, giving him plenty of time to mature and We are now reaping the rewards,” Blacker said.
For the time being Blacker will concentrate on sprint distances and he has targeted either a BM72 handicap over 1150m at Spreyton in just over two weeks or a BM82 over 1200m in Launceston two days earlier.