Hillier aiming for four consecutive Globe Derbies

Top Tasmanian harness racing trainer-driver Rohan Hillier will be aiming to join an elite group if he can prepare and drive the winner of the upcoming $30,000 3YO Globe Derby final in Launceston next month.

Hillier has trained and driven the past three Globe Derby winners in Ryley Major (2016), Jerrys Jet (2015) and Chopstix Boris (2015) and in just over a fortnight he will partner Rock N Roll Turbo in a Globe Derby heat in Launceston with the hope of progressing him to the final a fortnight later.

Rock N Roll Turbo showed enormous potential as a two-year-old winning the Keith Stanley Debutante on debut and a heat of the Dandy Patch Stakes at his subsequent outing after which he was being touted as possibly the best horse bred by his owner Charlie Beadman.

After finishing second in the $30,000 Dandy Patch final to Usain Jolt he was spelled and at his first start this time in he finished last of eight and beaten over 90 metres in a 3YO race in Launceston in the care of Paul Hill.

Rock N Roll Turbo was again rested and when he was about to race again the owner opted to send the colt to Hillier who has won aboard the colt twice from as many outings this month with the latest in Devonport last Sunday night.

"I am more than pleased with how Rock N Roll Turbo is going since he arrived and his win last Sunday night was effortless," Hillier said.

"He's coming along nicely and I think the change in his attitude has come through working him with other horses which has got his mind on the job.

"The penny seems to have dropped with him and if he continues to improve I expect him to be very competitive in the Globe Derby."

Last Sunday night in Devonport Rock N Roll Turbo settled last from his outside second-row draw but when Hillier sent the three-year-old around the field to find a spot he had no trouble in cruising to the front.

He hit the line 10 metres clear of his nearest rival without having to be fully extended.

Peter Staples