BRIGHTON harness racing trainer Christian Salter followed a successful meeting at Devonport on Sunday night with a double at the combined harness-greyhound meeting at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston on Monday night.
Salter trained and drove Iden Noshot to victory in the J Boag & Son Pace over 2200 metres and outsider Aninchofhislife in the opening race on the eight-event card.
Iden Noshot had been consistent without winning in similar company at his previous three starts but with clear racing room on Monday night the four-year-old gelding gave his rivals a pacing lesson on his way to a 4.4-metre win over Miss Etna with Whodareswins a similar margin away third.
Iden Noshot won two in succession in August to suggest he might realise the potential he showed as a two-year-old
Aninchofhislife (Red River Hanover-Ark Drifter) is a half-brother to his Devonport winner Drifting West (x Modern Art) that scored an emphatic win last Sunday night
Salter said he had doubts that Aninchofhislife would even win a race but the three-year-old’s progress this past month suggests those doubts may have been unwarranted.
“This horse is not as good as Drifting West but he did a very good job in wining tonight,” Salter said.
“Up until recently I would have doubted whether he was good enough to win a three-year-old race at a Sunday night (premium) meeting but, going on this win, I think he might.”
“He’s still got improvement in him and that’s the encouraging part,” the trainer said.
Aninchofhislife started at bolter’s odds of $31 but won like an even money chance.
The gelding hit the line almost 15 metres clear of Fleetwood Express with Bridie’s Best two metres astern.