Jacob Duggan drove his first winner since returning to the sulky after an injury-enforced break when Aurora Reason claimed the national rating 45 to 49 Pace (2090m) in Hobart on Friday afternoon.
Aurora Reason ($4), trained by Jacob’s father Adrian, settled one out and four back before racing three-wide over the final 800m. The gelding came from a long way back around the final bend before sprinting home well over the concluding stages to run down the leader, Bringusjoy ($2.90), by 1.5m with Morris Brown ($3.60), a further 2.1m away third in 1:59.4s.
“I was thrilled (to get the first winner back), it took a couple of weeks, but it was good to get it on my last winner before my injury,” said Jacob, who spent several weeks sidelined after sustaining a compression fracture to his L3 while riding a thoroughbred in trackwork.
“He came solo from the 700m, before getting a little bit of cover, and then he got around them around the corner and hit the line good.
“He has always had trouble drawing a gate, but once he draws there and can slot in and run home he has always been consistent,” said the driver.
Tammy Langley took training honours at the meeting with a training treble, including Denny ($6), who won the Prydes Easifeed Pace (1609m) in 1:55.1s with Jakob White in the sulky.
Dylan Ford was in the sulky for Langley’s following two winners, A Shadow Of Doubt ($2.20 fav) and Nikita Jo ($3.50 fav).
Sidmouth trainer Wayne Yole prepared a double on the program with Lachlan Dakin continuing his good recent form, guiding Oneofthelads ($20) to victory in the opening race, while Mitch Ford partnered Lalibela ($4.00) to success later in the day.
