Hillier stable addition impresses with dominating win

Hy Leinvinvible (Roll With Joe) opened his winning account in Tasmania at his first harness racing start in the state with an impressive 33.6m win in a rating 53 to 59 in Hobart on Sunday night.

Sent out the $1.60 favourite from the pole draw, the five-year-old gelding was able to lead, and after a 34.7s lead time he was able to record a 62s first half-mile.

Trainer-driver Rohan Hillier had plenty of horse left in a 29.1s third quarter, which saw Hillier let the pacer slide home in a 28.2s final section.

Hillier wasn’t full of confidence heading into the race but was impressed with the win.

“He had been a bit disappointing for Nathan Jack at his first few starts back about a month ago, and he said he had been working well, and he had been working well here, so it was a wait-and-see game to see how he would perform at the races,” said Hillier.

“Nathan moved him on, and Adam Kelly, who used to train him, rang me and suggested that I take him,” recalled the trainer-driver.

Sunday’s effort was the pacer’s fifth back from a long layoff.

“He has had a few issues. I think he has had pins in his legs and things like that, he is not the soundest horse, but he does have ability.

“He has only won two races, so I would think he is going to slot into the lifetime win races for the next few months.

“Down here in a bit lesser grade, he may be able to get his confidence up but if you go back through his form, he did beat Bondi Lockdown home five starts ago,” Hillier said.

Meanwhile, Miss Papenhuyzen remains on track for Saturday week’s inaugural running of the Beautide, which will see the winner secure the Tasracing slot in the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1 million TAB Eureka at Sydney’s Menangle Park on 2 September.

Miss Papenhuyzen raced well below her best when third behind stablemate Baby You A Song in the Group 3 Granny Smith on 16 July.

“Baby You A Song had a week off (and will miss The Beautide), and Miss Papenhuyzen picked a bad night to put in her worse run ever, but she seems fine, so hopefully it was a one-off with her, we will tick her along this week, do a blood test, and all systems go for The Beautdie I think.

“I know Miss Paperhuyzen is the better mare, and if we were to have a chance to win it, then she is the one that can win it,” said Hillier.

Nominations for the Beautide close at 9:30 am on Monday 31 July.