Hillier team on tune for Leigh Plunkett

Many Devonport Harness Racing Club feature races headline Sunday’s (May 28) 10-race Launceston card.

The CUB Devonport City Of Quality, Ladbrokes Sheffield Cup, and Lucas Hotel Latrobe Cup all look set to be thrilling contests, as does the Alabar Leigh Plunkett for the four-year-old and older mares rated up to 69.

Beauty Point-based trainer Rohan Hillier will be represented by two runners in the 2200m event, which will see winning connections take home a free service to Vincent on top of their $9,100 first prize cheque.

Hillier will drive Baby You A Song (Sweet Lou), which he part-owns and bred with his wife, Katrina.

The half-sister to Ryley Major impressed with a dominant 25.4m first-up win on 19 May, where she dashed home in 56.8s last half mile.

“She was a fair bit underdone, and I was pretty happy to see her do that, and I think she can only improve,” said Hillier.

After a heat win, the mare missed last year’s Bandbox due to a bad cold.

The Hillier stable is also represented by Miss Papenhuyzen (Sweet Lou), who is first up since running second in the state’s premier mares race, the George Johson, on 18 March.

The daughter of Sweet Lou has already won two races this season, including a win in track record time for 2150m at Carrick Park in mid-March.

“What she did last time in did surprise me.

“She is probably similar to Baby You A Song last week in that I think she will need the run, as she hasn’t had a trial, but she seems to be working well enough,” said Rohan, who has given driving responsibilities to his brother Troy.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if she were too good for the other mare. I don’t know if she is or isn’t.

Hillier indicated both mares would be aimed at the $60,000 Granny Smith, which will be held in Hobart in July before the trainer considers the Eureka Qualification race in August.