Hillview Jake set to end season on a high

Star Tasmanian two-year-old pacer Hillview Jake will have his last start of the season at the harness racing meeting  at UBET Park in Hobart on Sunday night in the $10,000 Tasmanian Premier's Breeders Plate over 2090 metres.

Hillview Jake has been the standout colt or gelding juvenile this season winning the Golden Slipper, Tasmanian Sweepstakes and Dandy Patch finals along with two other impressive wins.

His Dandy Patch win with Gavin Lang aboard was outstanding. he clocked a mile rate of two minutes but dashed home his last half (800m) in a slick 56.9 seconds which is the fastest last half of any juvenile this season.

While Hillview Jake should have the other local opposition covered in the race it is a well-bred gelding named Soho Chelsea from the Dean Braun stable at Lara in Victoria that could be the testing material for the local star.

Soho Chelsea won two in succession in Victoria before venturing to Tasmania last week to win his Australasian Breeders Crown heat over 2200 metres in Launceston last Sunday night defeating Ken Two Stars comfortably.

He produced a pedestrian mile rate of 2.05.1 but he ran home his last half (800m) in 57.8 without being fully tested.

Soho Chelsea is in the care of top Tasmanian trainer-driver Rohan Hillier while racing in Tasmania and Hillier is very upbeat about his winning chances on Sunday night.

"I was very impressed with this two-year-old and while Hillview Jake is very smart I think this one has what it takes to beat him on Sunday night," Hillier said.

Soho Chelsea will return to Braun's stables next week and be prepared for his tilt at the Breeders Crown next month.

Peter Staples