TALENTED harness racing trainer-driver Justin Campbell prepared his first treble on the Launceston circuit in 12 years when he dominated at yesterday’s rescheduled Launceston Pacing Club meeting.
Campbell won aboard John Snow and Damitsam that he also trains and he opened his account for the day aboard the Steve Lucak-trained Stoner Rainbow.
It was almost 12 years to the day that Campbell prepared his first treble in Launceston with Really Mal, Itsalongwalkhome and General Kiev.
However that trio gave Campbell a record that might never be equaled.
The same three horses won at three consecutive meetings.
“Itsalongwalkhome, Really Mal and General Kiev won at two consecutive meetings at the Hobart Showground and again at Mowbray so it was a fairly unique effort,’ Campbell said.
Campbell’s treble on Tuesday also had an omen-like tint to it as one of the races he won 12 years ago was the Gareth Rattray Stakes and yesterday Damitsam won the Get Well Gareth Rattray Stakes.
“Had we had the information before the meeting started we might have had a little something all-up especially on the Gareth Rattray Stakes won by Damitsam,” Campbell said.
Campbell said the circumstances surrounding yesterday’s meeting – originally scheduled for last Sunday but postponed because of the state of the track caused by heavy rain, meant his horses hadn’t been hoppled for eight days.
“A lot can be said for not hoppling the horses for eight days because they all ran really well,” he said.
Campbell was full of praise for his two-year-old John Snow, named after a character from the pay TV show Game of Thrones, but he was particularly impressed with the win of Damitsam.
“I just love this horse (Damitsam) because he tries his guts out every time he comes to the races,” he said.