Hillview Jake simply the best

Any doubts as to whether star Tasmanian juvenile pacer Hillview Jake will be named two-year-old of the year were put to bed at the harness racing meeting at UBET Park Hobart last night where the gelding delivered another stellar performance to win the Premier's Breeders Plate over 2090 metres.

It was the last 2YO feature of the season and Hillview Jake went into the race with impeccable form having won the Golden Slipper, 2YO Sweepstakes and Dandy Patch finals along with two other juvenile victories but he was surprisingly sent around the second favourite at $2.50.

Victorian gelding Soho Chelsea owned that honour as he was backed in to start the $1.70 favourite following his two wins in Victoria that led to an impressive Tasmanian debut in a heat of the Breeders Crown in Launceston last week.

Connections of Soho Chelsea opted to stay in the state to tackle the Breeders Plate before heading back to Victoria to tackle a semi-final of the Breeders Crown.

But the Paul Hill-trained Hillview Jake defied the betting drift and proved why he will be named Tasmania's best two-year-old this season.

Hillview Jake began well as did the Dean Braun-trained Soho Chelsea that made full use of the pole position but when Hill sent Hillview Jake forward Soho Chelsea's driver Rohan Hillier opted to take hold and take a sit behind Hillview Jake.

A lap from home Hillier edged Soho Chelsea off the fence to race at the leader's wheel and as they headed down the back stretch the last time Soho Chelsea issued a serious challenge but it was to no avail.

When Hill called on Hillview Jake to extend the gelded son of Cardmaster Hanover sprinted clear and he went on to easily defeat $50 outsider Ductape with Streetside Classic a closing third ahead of Iden Amrak that was denied a clear run over the last 400 metres.

Ductape, prepared by Ben Rossendell, settled last and also suffered some interference so his effort was full of merit to finish second.

Soho Chelsea knocked up in the home straight to finish fifth.

Peter Staples