IN-FORM pacer Dodgermemate has emerged as a genuine contender for the upcoming Group 1 $100,000 Tasmania Cup on Boxing Day following his win in the $10,000 City of Devonport Quality free-for-all over 1930 metres last Sunday night.
Dodgermemate stormed home to defeat Kings A Coach and the heavily backed Ti Vogliobene, with the winner clocking a slick rate of 1m.58.7s on the tight Devonport Showground circuit.
His time was just outside of the track record of 1m.57.5 set by Victorian Jay Pees Ruler, prepared by Andy Gath, in the same race three years ago.
The Geoff Smith-trained gelding was patiently driven by experienced reinsman Keith Toulmin who waited until entering the back straight the last time to make his move from well back in the field.
It’s not easy to run on from well back on the Devonport circuit but Smith’s stable star did it with ease.
Another impressive winner at the meeting was Harbhajan that also broke two minutes in winning the $10,000 Leigh Plunkett Memorial.
Reinsman Scott Ford controlled the race from the outset and when he called on his charge to extend nearing the home turn he left his rivals in his wake.
Harbhajan, who is named after Indian Test cricketer Harbhajan Singh, has been a welcome addition to the Phillip Ford stable.
When Harbhajan arrived at Ford’s Brighton training complex he had not won a race in four years but his record with Ford stands at five from nine starts in Tasmania.