WHEN harness trainer Keith Toulmin declares one of his horses as the best bet of his stable of runners it pays to take notice.
Toulmin was a special guest last Sunday morning on the Tasmanian Harness Show that airs every Sunday on TOTE Sport Radio at 8.30am.
Harness Show presenter Kevin Neilson discussed each of Toulmin’s runners at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart that night and at the end of the interview he asked the trainer to nominate his best and he was quick to reply with Thabela Brioso.
Despite Toulmin’s confidence Thabela Brioso scored at big odds paying $21.50 for the win and $3.50 the place on SuperTab.
Top reinsman Gareth Rattray settled Thabela Brioso outside of the leader Lola Bromac ($5.40) that was well backed to win the race.
When Rattray called on his charge to extend in the back straight the last time the six-year-old mare responded magnificently.
She edged clear 100 metres out and went on to score by a metre from Lola Bromac with Blacktie Affair six metres astern.
Thabela Brioso had only modest form going into the race but Toulmin said he had managed to iron out a couple of issues that may have been preventing her from performing at her best.
The other positive was Rattray regaining the drive. Rattray has been in the sulky four times for three wins and a luckless fourth with his other wins back in January and March 2008.