Hillier increases premiership lead

Driver Rohan Hillier increased his lead at the top of the Tasmanian Drivers’ Premiership table after a harness racing treble in Launceston on Friday night.

Hillier’s first winner came aboard eight-year-old gelding My Ultimate Romeo ($1.30 fav), who he also trains, in the Elders Insurance Launceston Pace (2200m).

The eight-year-old Art Major gelding was positioned four-back on the pylons in the small field before leading up the one-wide line for the final 1100m of the race.

The gelding drew clear over the final 100m to score by 4.6m over Sneaky Peak ($10) and Rocks Roy ($31) in 2:02.6s.

My Ultimate Romeo has now won 18 races, with four of those wins coming this season.

Hillier completed a race-to-race double with the Luke Hooper-trained Stormont Star ($7) in the Ladbroke It! Stakes (2200m).

From an inside of a second-row draw, Hilier was able to have the 10-year-old gelding one away in the early stages of the race and ended up one out and two back after recovering from being severely checked on the first turn.

Hillier ducked back to a position on the pylons down the back straight before getting into clear room 100m out to record a 1.6m win and give trainer Luke Hooper his first win of the season.

The win of Royal Reactor ($2.30 fav) completed the Hillier’s treble in the Faithful Park Stud Stakes.

The seven-year-old gelding was positioned just worse than midfield in the running line before improving into the race three-wide from the 500m, where he raced away to record a 6.9m win.

The Ben Richardson-trained pacer has now won five races, with three of those wins coming this season.

Hillier leads the driver’s premiership with 49 wins, over Dylan Ford 33, with Mark Yole and Robert Walters third with 26 wins a piece.

Also driving a treble on the Launceston card was Charlie Castles, who drove Bettablack Tiger ($4.80) and Octagonise ($6.50) to victory for his uncle John before completing his treble on Just Tiger ($1.70 fav), who Charlie also trains.

Other winners on the card included I Want It All ($3.70) for the Tammy Langley and Dylan Ford combination and Iden Black Prince ($1.65 fav) for father and son duo Mark and Malcom Jones.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing