A day of firsts as Craig claims Cup

Passionate harness racing horseman Craig Hoban had never driven at Yarra Valley before and had never tasted success in a Cup.

But the sentimentally named Give Dave A Wave (Sportswriter) made it a trip to remember for Hoban last Thursday afternoon (Nov 7) with an authoritative victory in the $10,000 United Petroleum Pacing Cup final.

And we’re sure to hear more about the four-year-old in the future, with his career record now standing at four wins and four placings from 19 starts in his first season of racing.

“There’s a bit attached to the name – one of my best mates who passed away 11 years ago was Dave, and it’s also my middle name, as well as that of my late dad Gary,” Hoban said.

“The horse has certainly got some ability, and I’d love to see him build up a race record like his mum Dancingwithsierra who finished top three in 65 percent of her starts.”

Dancingwithsierra (Modern Art) had 38 races for 13 wins, 10 seconds and two third placings for stakes of $161,544.

Hoban, based at Melton, ventured to the picturesque Yarra Valley track with confidence after Give Dave A Wave was an eye-catching heat winner at Bendigo nine days prior.

Hoban drove the perfect race to land one-out and two-back on 5/1 chance Give Dave A Wave, before unleashing a sustained sprint to cruise past the favorite Dressed In Gold (Ewa Justice), with Shaq (Jack Laugher) working home into third.

“He was travelling like the winner a fair way out and I was honestly very confident on the home corner because Dressed In Gold had worked in the death-seat nearly all the way,” he said.

Hoban said while Give Dave A Wave is a stallion, he is a “little gentleman” and is still learning his craft.

“I’ve gradually been getting him fitter and fitter with more racing. He didn’t race as a two and three-year-old so his first 10 starts have been sort of educating him through the races,” he said.

“All of his recent runs have been great. The Bendigo win was super, and I was stoked with the start before that at Melton. He was against some handy horses, but when he got out, he ran home nice.

“He’s always been a good-looking horse and a while ago I knocked back big money for him. He’s the first foal out of Dancingwithsierra – the next one is a Betting Line gelding and I have a Lather Up filly.”

Hoban is training a team of four horses out of the Melton property owned by former champion trainer-driver Lance Justice.

“The track is really good. It’s about 1100metres so most of our fastwork is done at home,” Hoban said.

“I always regarded Lance as a mentor as when I was younger, we didn’t live all that far away and we’d bring horses down to his property to work them. And now I’m based here,” Hoban said.

“I copped a fortnight holiday from stewards at Yarra Valley, so I won’t start Give Dave A Wave until I come back in. I’ve always enjoyed driving and I’ll be as keen as ever because I’m on a hat-trick now!”

The $10,000 Yarra Valley De Bortoli Trotters Cup was taken out by five-year-old mare Designs (Kvintet Avenger), trained by Toby Ainsworth and driven by his partner Ada Massa.