TALENTED filly Fourstarzzzgirl should make her presence felt in this season’s Bandbox Stakes following her impressive win in a heat of the series at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston tonight.
With her trainer Rohan Hillier in the sulky, Fourstarzzzgirl settled last in the field of five while the well-backed favourite Carly Seelster (Gavin Lang) led but only at a modest tempo while Delmi trailed the leader.
In the back straight the last time Hillier sent Fourstarzzzgirl around the field to face the breeze and at the top of the straight Hillier called on is filly to deliver the goods.
Entering the home straight Delmi galloped for no apparent reason.
Fourstarzzzgirl gained the upper hand from Carly Seelster but she then had to answer a challenge from Delightful Lilly that emerged from the pack to stake her aim.
But Hillier’s filly had the answer and held on to defeat Delightful Lilly by a head and the Carly Seelster a fading third two metres away.
It was an impressive win but connections had to wait to collect owing to an objection lodged by Dylan Ford, the driver of the runner-up, who protested against the winner for alleged interference over the final 100 metres.
In the stewards’ room the head-on race replay showed Fourstarzzzgirl had shifted out slightly about 80 metres from home but the panel, chaired by Mick Hoyle, determined that the shift out in the home straight was caused primarily by the Gavin Lang-driven Carly Seelster.
“We have dismissed the protest as it was clear that the initial shift was caused by Carly Seelster (Gavin Lang),” Hoyle said.
Carly Seelster drifted up the rack when placed under pressure 100 metres from home.
Listen to what trainer-driver Rohan Hillier had to say about Fourstarzzzgirl’s latest win – CLICK HERE.