Trainer Paul Hill is on holiday visiting family up in Broome, but he will be keeping a close eye on the final race on Sunday night’s Hobart program.
Hill has last season’s Tasmanian Three-Year-Old filly of the year, Reely Nauti, engaged in the rating 64 to 74 event over 2090m.
The four-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous hasn’t raced since finishing second in the Bandbox Final in Launceston in early December and resumes on Sunday on the back of two trial wins, the most recent on Monday afternoon when scoring by 10.5m in a 58.6s last half mile.
“She did a real good job last season. I couldn’t over-race her as you just come up on your rating too quickly, and you end up in the free-for-alls. You just can’t do it at that age,” said Hill.
“She has done well (with her spell), and she has filled out and has built up nice and strong, and we have just brought her along steady. We have given her two quiet trials, and she has trialled pretty well, so we are all set to go,” the trainer added.
Hill’s main aim for the pacer is the upcoming Granny Smith, with the traditional Devonport feature race being held in Launceston this year.
“She will race on Sunday, and then it will be a fortnight to the Granny Smith heat and then a further fortnight to the final, so it should top her off nicely,” he said.
Mark Yole, the mare’s regular driver, takes the reins on Sunday, where they have drawn barrier four.
“I think Stepping Stones is the main danger. She has been racing well and in free-for-alls, and she is going to be hard to beat, especially being race-fit. But I think if our mare can get across, she is going to be very hard to beat,” Hill said about the mare’s chances.
Sunday night’s nine-race card commences at 17:04 and features the Tasmanian Horse Transport Sires’ Produce and the Prydes Easifeed Hobart Belmont.
