Another Pacing Cup for Hillier and Hadley

Montana Storm (Bettor’s Delight) delivered another North Eastern Pacing Cup to local reinsman Rohan Hadley and harness racing trainer Rohan Hillier when the five-year-old gelding proved too tough for his rivals in the $14,000 feature, which was conducted in front of a large crowd at the Scottsdale Recreation Ground on Friday night.

Montana Storm sat back in the field from his 20m handicap in the 2692m event before Hadley improved his position on the pacer from the 500m, before running to the lead around the final bend to race away from his rivals to score by six metres over Check In and Colby Sanz.

“It’s excellent, especially for the large group of owners. I know them all,” said a delighted Rohan Hadley after his fourth win in the race.

“My word, the first two laps were by far the fastest two, so it suited a swooper, which suited me.

“I think he goes better with the pace on, so he can come with that one-run. The stands suit him, I don’t know why he is out of the draw as he steps away well for me,” explained Hadley.

The mile rate of 2m 1.6s broke the previous track and race record of 2m 2.3s held by Arts Bliss when winning the cup in 2014.

The win was the ninth in a 26-start career for the Kiwi import, who was transferred to the Rohan Hillier stable after being purchased in April 2021.

Hillier confirmed that next week’s Devonport Pacing Cup, which will be held in Launceston, will be the next target for the gelded son of Bettors Delight.

The victory was an early birthday present for Hillier, who turns 50 on Monday, and the win was his third as a trainer in the race.

The 2023 Cup was the first held at Scottsdale since 2020, with club president Rodney Hill, delighted with the crowd and on-course attractions his voluntary committee had worked hard on over the past year.

He was also rapt with the turnout of a function with former AFL footballer Matthew Richardson on Thursday evening, which included a Calcutta on the race, and is something the club would like to grow in coming years.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing