VICTORIAN harness racing trainer Adam Kelly has had a lot of success during his annual vigils to Tasmania and at Devonport last Sunday night he almost made it a clean sweep with his three runners.
Kelly’s classy open class horse Five Star Anvil made a one-act affair of the free-for-all scoring comfortably from his three rivals.
A disappointing line-up given the pressure trainers have ben placing the governing body to frame more free-for-all races.
Nevertheless it was a convincing win and one that pleased local driver Rohan Hillier who partnered all three of his runners at the meeting.
“The horse won easily but I think anyone in the grandstand could have driven him and won,” Hillier said.
“Five Star Anvil is in Tassie specifically for the Easter Cup at the end of the month so he’ll line up in an Easter Cup prelude next Sunday night and then go the Easter Cup a fortnight later.”
Kelly’s other winner was Highview Ruler (Elsu-Highview Courage) that won the Linx Coffee Van Pace over 2297 metres.
It was Highview Ruler’s Australian debut and the four-year-old could not have been more impressive.
Highview Ruler had five starts in New Zealand with his best effort a third at Gore at his last appearance in New Zealand in October last year.
Kelly’s consistent mare Starzzz Of Icon was a game second to the in-form Shelley Barnes-trained mare Angel or Demon who made it four wins from as many starts this time in.
Photo courtesy of Greg Mansfield.