Davis went into the Hobart meeting with a one-win lead in the premiership, but he increased that to a three-win break over Mitch Ford, with meetings at King Island on Boxing Day, which Davis will drive at, Burnie (27 December) and Carrick Park (29 December) to round out the 2024 harness season.
Ford intends to drive next week under a stay of proceedings that he applied for after appealing two suspensions totalling nine race dates handed down to him by stewards last week in Launceston.
Davis drove The Shallows ($26 into $14) to victory in the Claremont Football Club Pace (2090m).
First up from a spell, the Heath Woods-trained rising nine-year-old gelding settled one-out and two-back early before being shuffled to one-out and three-back at the mile. Davis produced the pacer three and four-wide from the 500m, where he sprinted home best to defeat stablemate Stepping Stones ($11) by 3.1m with Keayang Fitzy ($16) a head away third in a mile rate of 1:58.4s.
“He had been working well, and we probably weren’t going to race him until after Christmas, but when this race popped up with a random barrier draw, we thought he had a chance of drawing well, as most races are drawn on wins or stake money,” said trainer Heath Woods post-race.
“He had a reasonable spell, and he probably tapered off a bit last preparation and a lot of the time, he is racing well, but you need a draw, a bit of luck and that sort of thing, and he is still enjoying his racing.
“The Hobart Pacing Cup is his aim, and then we will see what’s on,” the trainer said about the plans of the pacer.
Davis’s other win came aboard Weona Eagle ($6), which is trained by his father, Steven.
Davis was one of three drivers to record multiple wins at the meeting, with Dylan Ford and Rohan Hillier both finding the winner’s stall several times.
Ford drove two-year-old Martyr ($1.70 fav) to his maiden win for visiting Victorian trainer Freddy Taiba, before scoring aboard Sunshine Saint ($1.75 fav) also to his maiden win.
Hillier’s double came later on the 10-race program aboard Fun To Love and Sherocks Sherolls, who are both trained by visiting Victorian trainer Dean Braun, one of two trainers to prepare a double on the card, the other being Wayne Yole who won the first two races with Modern Jive ($6.50) and Fleetwood Rock ($5).
