Hobart Cup success for Rackemup Tigerpie

Nine-year-old harness racing gelding Rackemup Tigerpie (Rock N Roll Heaven) made the most of the pole draw to lead all the way to take out the Listed Ladbrokes Hobart Pacing Cup (2579m) in Hobart on Sunday night.

Driver Nathan Ford was able to hold the lead on the Tammy Langley-trained pacer, who was having his first start off the front line in a mobile start race since 19 November, which was also the pacer’s last win.

Rackemup Tigerpie ($5.50) led throughout to score by 1.4m over Mickey Oh ($4.20 fav) and Gordons Bay ($18) in a peg dominated race.

The mile rate was 1:58.4s.

“The horse deserved it more than anything; he had been knocking on the door to win a big one over here, and he finally cracked.

“I ran the middle half pretty solid and got Harjeet (who raced outside the leader) off the bit, and once that happened, my only worry was Mickey Oh on my back, and my bloke gave me a big enough kick at the top of the straight when I asked him, and once he did I knew he was going to be hard to beat,” said Ford post-race.

Ford indicated the pacer will target some upcoming mobile start races before being aimed at heats of the Group 1 Tasmania Cup later next month.

Earlier on in the program, Windy Hanover ($5.50 fav) claimed the Paul Belcher @ Roberts New Norfolk Pacing Cup (2400m), which was held on the thoroughbred track.

Trainer-driver Rohan Hillier saw plenty of the grass track last year when three-wide the trip on his chance, but this year, he gave Windy Hanover an economical run behind the leader where he put up a great battle late to claim Major Davvin ($13) over the concluding stages.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing