Tasracing

Victorian father-son duo John and Rhys Nicholson had a night out at Ladbrokes Park Hobart Sunday with a training and driving treble on the ten-race card including the win of Its Back In The Day in the second heat of the Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup.

From the 10-metre handicap in the 2579 metre event, Rhys was able to settle the pacer into the one-out one back position before pealing three-wide at the 600-metre mark.

From there the gelded son of Washington Son of Washington Vc proved too good by 5.5 metres over The Announcer with Northview Dave a further 23 metres away third.

“It’s as easy as driving race cars, it was easy as that,” said winning driver Rhys Nicholson after the race.

“With over 12-months off the scene I was worried about the standing start, but he began well and settled in the one-one, and we used his speed at the top of the straight and left a bit in the tank for next week’s final,” explained Rhys.

“The owners paid good money for him, and they are not too pushy, whatever Dad says goes,” said the Victorian-based reinsman.

“We do know he has a lot of ability; we gave him six-months off to find himself as he was so immature when we got him, and you can see how he has filled out into a lovely horse,” added the winning driver.

Short price favourite Holy Basil was a late scratching on vets advice after suffering an elevated temperature.

The mile rate of 2m 2.4s was only 0.1s slower than the mile rate recorded by Im Sir Blake in last week’s heat.

Deadly Error winning the Team Teal Belmont.

Two-year-old filly Deadly Error made the most of her excellent draw to score in the $12,000 Team Teal Hobart Belmont.

After leading early Rhys elected to hand up to Iden Reactor who was racing outside him before angling into the clear at the 600-metre mark.

“She is not a super horse, it was her second trip away from home, to run the gate grab hold and hook out and run on, they are some good signs there,” said the winning driver.

Deadly Error is by Captaintrecherous and is out of the Presidential Ball mare Forever After and is raced by John along with Tasmanian born driver Jack Laugher who now calls Victoria home.

Micton Mouse proves too good in the Carlton Draught Pace.

Their other winner was with three-year-old gelding Micton Mouse who overcame a second-row draw to score in the Carlton Draught Pace over the mile trip.

“He is a nice horse, I had my doubts sitting back in the field as he has good gate speed and goes well in front, but he did have a bit of class as he had been racing better horses than these and it showed tonight,” said Rhys.

“The speed was on, and that suits him as it is his style, he never gives in which is the main thing,” added the winning driver who indicated that Saturday nights $30,000 Tasmanian Derby is the pacers main aim.

John and Rhys teamed up to win the 2013 Tasmanian Derby with Ginger Bliss.

“That’s what he has come down here for, and it doesn’t look too strong. Hopefully, he is there about in the placings, he is no Ginger Bliss, but he should be there about,” said Rhys.

Watch the replay of Its Back in the Day winning Heat 2 of the Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup.