Dakin breaks the ice

Lachlan Dakin broke through for the first win of his driving career on Friday night in Launceston, guiding Goggo Gee Gee to victory.

Lachlan has been putting in the hard yards around the Rattray stables for the past 18 months and his reward for effort finally came with his success at his thirteenth drive.

“It’s been a great experience working for the Rattray’s I couldn’t ask for nicer people or a better place to learn my craft,” said Lachlan.

“Todd’s been great to me, he goes through the form with me and explains everything about what is required around the stables and on the training track so I’ve been very lucky.”

Lachlan got the ball rolling for the boss with a classy drive positioning Goggo Gee Gee in sixth position before making his move out three-wide at the bell.

“Goggo Gee Gee was travelling well and when we ran to the front off the back at the 600-metre mark I was feeling confident,” said Lachlan.

“He’s been working well so I knew he would take some running down in the home straight, he held them off easily in the finish to win by five metres.”

The win was the start of a highly successful night for Todd, training three winners and steering home two of his stable runners, Hayley’s Comet ($3.00 fav) and Our Summer Vacation ($3.40) in the trot.

Todd took over the reins in race 4 on Hayley’s Comet and he drove the popular pick aggressively from the second line spearing between runners on the front line to find the death seat from gate 12 in the first 300-metres, before running to the front at the bell.

Rattray dictated proceedings out in front with Hayley’s Comet before going for home at the top of the stretch, the Rock n Roll Heaven-As It Is In Heaven four-year-old gelding responded gamely and held the opposition at bay to score by 2.2-metres, much to the delight of favourite punters.

Todd capped off his outstanding night with a victory in the Trotters Discretionary with 40-metre backmarker Our Summer Vacation scoring back-to-back wins at the track.

Our Summer Vacation began safely and steadily made up its handicap before settling in the one-one.

Todd bided his time on the experienced campaigner before hooking out four-wide at the 400 pole and had the race in his keeping a long way out.

Rohan Hillier claimed a winning double in the sulky with Rocknroll Turbo and Max Delight in a Heat of the Australasian Breeders Crown for Colts and Geldings.

Shane Yates