Another title for Tassie’s rising star

Bronte Miller added another Tasmanian junior drivers series to her resume after securing harness racing’s Cavalor Equicare Claiming Novice Drivers Series in Launceston on Sunday night.

Miller scored in heat three of the four-race series to secure maximum points on the Brent Parish-prepared Boston Busker.

The five-year-old gelding settled one-out and three-back before weaving through the field to grab Jack James on the line, with a short-half-head separating the pair.

“He settled quite nicely in the run. I drove for luck through the middle when they made their runs down the back and was lucky to get out in plenty of time. It was a good win in the end,” said Miller post-race..

Miller looked set to make a winning start of the series when driving Ideal Karalta in the opening heat. The pacer looked like he had a winning break on his rivals before peaking on the run late to end up in second spot behind the Mitch Ford driven Ashleys Blue Chip.

“I may have gone for him a bit too early knowing that he can do that,” Miller said about Ideal Karalta.

Other heats were won by Pink Ponder for Liam Older and Dapper who was driven by Jacob Duggan.

Miller, 17, took out the Youngbloods Challenge in December last year and has continued on with her good form in the 2021 season by driving 20 winners, which sees her at the top of the junior drivers’ title this season.

“I’m very grateful for the trophy donated by Cavalor Equicare, as I am for the owners and trainers because these series don’t happen without their support,” said Miller.

Final point score of the Cavalor Equicare Claiming Novice Drivers Series:

• 40 Bronte Miller
• 36 Jacob Duggan
• 32 Mitch Ford
• 28 Hannah Van Dongen
• 26 Kayleb Williams
• 25 Liam Older
• 24 Malcom Jones
• 18 Ryan Backhous,
• 17 Charlie Castles
• 15 Jordan Chibnall

To view the results from Launceston on Sunday (May 15) click here.

Meanwhile, former Tasmanian reinsman Jack Laugher celebrated the biggest win of his driving career when scoring on Mister Hunter in the $150,000 Group 1 APG Vic Gold Bullion Final.

Laugher, 23, left Tasmania several seasons ago to further his career and has recorded 468 wins since making his race track debut in the 2015/16 season.

Another Tasmanian doing great things is Tasbred pacer Ignatius, who won again at The Meadowlands in New Jersey on Saturday night.

Bred by the Rattray family, Ignatius led all the way in torrential rain to score in the fast class race of the night in a slick 1:48.3/5ths.

by Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing