Promising filly resumes tonight in Launceston

Promising harness racing filly Hy On A Hill (Bettors Delight) steps out for the first time as a three-year-old in Launceston on Friday in the Bevan Lee’s Butchery Stakes (2200m).

The daughter of Bettors Delight won two of her three starts last season as a late two-year-old to the joy of her Western Australian-based owners Ian Barker and Kathleen Chambers, along with trainer-driver Rohan Hillier.

“She showed a bit last year, and hopefully, she can improve on that. She hasn’t grown any; she is only a small little thing, but she tries pretty hard,” said Hillier.

“She surprised me a bit (last preparation) because, at home, her work was nowhere near as good as what she showed at the races. She actually shocked me when she went to the races, so I can’t get a good guide on her here,” the trainer-driver explained.

The filly goes into Friday night’s first up assignment off a second placing in a Carrick Park trial on 1 July, where Hillier was pleased with the effort.

“I was happy enough. The winner of the trial (Maddies Tiger) won last week, and she has improved on that,” he said.

Hillier has no firm plans for the pacer going forward.

“We will just try to go through her grades. If she is good enough, she will probably go to the Oaks, but she has a Vicbred in her, so whether the owners want to go that way or not, I don’t know.”

The Hillier stable also has in-form pacer My Ultimate Romeo engaged in the Lees Orchard Stakes (2200m).

The pacer has won four of his five starts since going to Hillier’s stable after former trainer Conor Crook left the pacer in Hillier’s care after recently campaigning several of his stable runners in the state.

“He is a horse that had four races to win to reach a 50 rating, and he almost won the same type of race four starts in a row.

“I don’t think he is going any better than he has ever gone. I just think he is a bit more consistent, and he may struggle now as he gets up in class, but he is a rising nine-year-old and has done a pretty good job,” explained Hillier.

In the sulky this season, Hillier leads the premiership with 50 winners (at a 26% winning strike rate), and with 47 meetings on mainland Tasmania remaining for the season, he could certainly give the season’s 100 winners a nudge.