Breakthrough ‘Tassie’ win

Victorian-owned pacer Yorkshire broke through for an overdue win in Launceston on Sunday night.

The Juanita McKenzie-trained gelding had been runner-up behind some of the best pacers currently racing in the state over the winter months and appreciated a drop back into a rating 75 to 105 event.

Despite the class drop it was a tough performance, with driver Rodney Ashwood driving a confident race from a second-row draw to find the spot outside the leader at the mile.

After an unsuccessful look for the lead, Ashwood decided to make the race a survival of the fittest by going for home at the half-mile, going on to score by 3.5 metres over the race favourite Illegal Immigrant.

“He has done a good job tonight, the time he ran tonight, in the (wet and windy) conditions, and he did all the work,” said Ashwood post-race.

Jobells Image scored an upset win in the Dakin Refrigeration Pace.

The Ben Yole-trained daughter of Always A Virgin enjoyed a lovely run one-out and one-back before the $21 chance sprinted home best to upset $1.20 favourite Kuyomi in the fillies and mares event.

It was the first win in five starts for the mare since arriving in the Yole stable.

“She has been a very big headache but has plenty of ability. She got the gun run tonight and behaved herself. That has been one of her traits that has let her down in her career,” Yole explained.

Longford trainer-driver Todd Rattray kicked off the night on a winning note when Mallen scored his maiden win on debut.

The gelded son of Sunshine Beach showed good gate speed to lead and enjoyed some soft sections on a track that was rain-effected before proving too good late for stablemate Maebee by a half-neck.

Mallen is out of the un-raced Art Major mare Dewee, who is a half-relation to many nice horses, including Bar Ron Boy, Chip And Gale, Biggenbettermax and Laterron.

Connections of the two-year-old collected their $10,000 first win Tasbred bonus, as did the connections of three-year-old filly Living On Prare, who led all the way to score for trainer-driver Rohan Hadley.