BRIDPORT harness trainer Grant Hodges has made a decent start to the season with five winners from only 16 starts.
Three of those winners arrived in Hobart last Sunday night in the form of The Detonator, Gracie Hart and last season’s Devonport Cup winner SkyTower.
It was Hodges’ first treble of the season but given the depth of his team it most likely won’t be the last.
Gracie Hart delivered the goods in a C5-C6 thanks to her being able to sneak into the race under the droop-down rule and a mare’s claim.
The Detonator was very impressive win winning a C0 over 2090 metres with his trainer in the sulky.
Hodges had the six-year-old former Victorian in the one-out-one-back position. Strategic Miss led with Hesadieberknight parked in the breeze and Merlin Of Camelot on the leader’s back.
“This horse has been close up at his past two so he deserved to break through,” Hodges said.
“He’s only had eight starts so there’s plenty of scope for improvement,” he said.
The Detonator (Armbro Operative-Exclusive Girl) clocked a mile rate of 2m.02.8s and ran home his last half (800m) in a minute but was not fully extended to win.
SkyTower was heavily backed to start the $3 favourite but he only scraped home by the narrowest of margins.
Driver Erin Hollaway had the gelding settled near the rear early off his handicap of 20 metres.
Jumpin Jack Jasper led from the pole position but driver Adrian Duggan handed up with Ronnie Rat pushed for the lead.
Ulos faced the breeze and looked set to win when he kicked clear on the home turn to set up a handy break.
But Hollaway managed to get every ounce out of SkyTower over the concluding stages to grab victory in the last stride by the narrowest of margins.
Hodges said he had a team of 20 being worked at his Bridport training complex on the North-EastCoast