DRILLER MAC proved he is a genuine Tasmanian Derby contender with a game win over star filly Cloudy Delight in The TOTE 3YO Pace over 2090m at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart today (Sunday).
The Mick Maxfield-trained gelding faced the breeze outside of the odds-on favourite Cloudy Delight for the last 1200 metres but proved too strong over the concluding stages to defeat that filly by three metres with the runner-up’s stablemate Aninchofhislife a closing third under three metres astern.
Driller Mac has won two of his past three starts and appears to have struck top form at the right time.
The trainer said Driller Mac (Art Major-Our Run Gigi) had progressed nicely in the past couple of months and expected him to be at his peak for the Derby to be run in Hobart on March 4.
This latest win was a result of a clever drive from the gelding’s regular driver Paul “Skip” Ashwood.
Ashwood had his charge positioned just beyond midfield after travelling 500 metres but when he saw the favourite Cloudy Delight working extra hard to find the front he sent Driller Mac charging around the field to face the breeze.
From there he was able to dictate terms and when he called on the gelded son of Art Major for the big effort in the home straight he responded magnificently.
The winner clocked a mile rate of 1m.59.2s and ran home his last half (800m) in 58.46s.
While the first two placegetters produced outstanding efforts there also was a lot to like about the run of Aninchofhislife.
Aninchofhislife weaved his way through the field and rattled home at the rate of knots to be beaten less than six metres.
Listen to what driver Paul Ashwood had to say about Driller Mac’s latest win and his Derby aspirations – click here.