WHILE the national harness racing spotlight remains focused on Tasmania’s dual Inter Dominion winner Beautide another Tasmanian-owned and trained pacer named Star Chamber has been creating records and notching outstanding wins on the local front.
Star Chamber has captured all three major cups run so far this season in Tasmania and should he emerge triumphant at his next assignment in the $40,000 Easter Cup he will create a modern day record that might never be repeated.
The Nathan Ford-trained gelding won the $40,000 Tasmania Cup in December and followed up with an impressive win in the $20,000 Hobart pacing Cup and on Sunday night he snared the $25,000 Devonport pacing Cup over 3020 metres on the tight Devonport Showground circuit.
Star Chamber had to start off a 30-metre handicap to win the Devonport Cup but he did it with authority to prove why he is rated the best pacer in Tasmania.
On Sunday night Ford allowed the Our Sir Vancelot six-year-old to settle at the rear of the field before easing him out three-wide to get into the race about 1400 metres from home and he did so on the back of Truly Blissful.
But when Ford realised that horse was going nowhere just under a lap from home he eased out four-wide to make his charge down the back stretch the last time.
Star Chamber collared the leaders turning for home and went on to win easily.
“This horse is a freak. To do what he has done this season is truly amazing,” Ford said.
“I know he is not in the same class as Beautide but Star Chamber must now be ranked at least the best horse racing in Tasmania,” he said.
Star Chamber was purchased by Ford about 16 months ago for $4000 from Neil Day in New South Wales and the horse came to Tasmania having won only one race and was rated a C1 class horse.
On Sunday night Star Chamber notched his 12th career win and his 11th for Ford to take his career stake earnings to $110,000 with a class rating of C12-M3.
“The horse has done an incredible job to win what he has in such a short space of time,” Ford said.
“We’ll go to the Easter Cup and hopefully this time the horse will be handicapped according to his class rating so we should again be off 30 metres,” he said.
Star Chamber is owned by the trainer in partnership with his life partner Bianca Heenan and two of Ford’s friends Jake Gillie and Josh Nelson.
“It’s great when you can race a horse with friends and get one that does unbelievable things and that’s what we’ve got with Star Chamber.”
“He’s only six and has no injury issues so realistically he should be able to keep doing this for another year or more,” he said.
Star Chamber’s greatest assets are his ability to settle in his races and he possesses a scintillating turn of foot, something he has utilised to win all three of his major cups.