The win by Waiona has added more interest in the build up to the mobile start $40,000 Tasmania Cup on 1 January and the standing start $20,000 Hobart Pacing Cup on 8 January. Both races are preceded by a mixture of open class stands and mobiles. The schedule is:
28 November Launceston $10,000 Open Discretionary Handicap
4 December Devonport $10,000 Open Free For All
11 December Launceston $20,000 Open Free For All
18 December Hobart $8,000 C6 & Better Discretionary Handicap Heat
27 December Hobart $8,000 Open Free For All
1 January Hobart $40,000 Tasmania Cup (MS)
1 January Hobart $8,000 C6 & Better Discretionary Handicap Heat
8 January Hobart $20,000 C6 & Better Discretionary Handicap Final
Waiona ($12.00) led throughout to win the $10,000 Big Park Stud Show Cup in Launceston on Sunday Night. A seven year old gelded son of Island Fantasy, Wiona jumped straight to the front from the pole position in the short distance (2200 metres) open discretionary handicap.
Trainer driver Rohan Hillier rated Waiona to perfection closing with a strong 28.1 last quarter to win by three metres from Beef City Beau (10 metres) and Tanabi Bromac (40 metres).
While all honors rested with Waiona, the place getters were impressive from the handicaps, as was Saab Quality (20 metres) who again made a mess of the standing start before recovering to finish sixth.
Waiona was purchased out a Victorian Claimer in May this year and had managed two placings in claiming company from five Tasmanian starts. Hillier reported that Waiona had worked well in recent weeks and he freely tipped him at odds to the other part owners.
Despite his success in open company, Hillier has dropped him back to Claiming class at the Launceston meeting this Sunday night. Waiona appears to be better suited there than a free for all on the same program where Tanabi Bromac, Our Sir Jeckyl, Saab Quality and Beef City Beau may dominate the placings.
Hillier is firmly established in the upper echelon of Tasmanian trainers. Last season he finished third to Grant Hodges (68 wins) and Barrie Rattray (53 wins) with 24 wins and 31 places from only 96 starters. His winning strike rate of 25% was just behind Hodges (27%). This season Hillier has not missed a place with his eight starters – five wins two seconds and a third.