Lachlan Dakin drove his second winner for the week when Dazzle Me ($21) claimed the Morey’s Tours Pace (2090m) in Hobart on Friday night.
From a second-row draw, Dakin had the Wayne Yole-trained pacer positioned behind the leader before working around a galloping runner near the half-mile to end up behind the leader.
The American Ideal gelding raced away in the home straight to score by 8.3m over Emer ($2.60) and Ranieri ($15) in a mile rate of 2:00.1s.
“He got a good run, and they were running all the way, we got off the fence when we had to, and he did all the rest.
“He was a long way down in grade. This time last year, he won the Burnie Cup,” Dakin said about the win.
The win was the second of the week for Dakin, who drove Morris Brown, a horse he owns to victory in Launceston last Sunday, and he will again drive the Todd Rattray-trained pacer again this Sunday afternoon in the Easter Cup Race Meeting Saturday 19 April Stakes (2200m).
“He has been going okay lately. It took a little while to work him out, and his confidence is a big thing with him.
“He has only got to go as good as he did last week (when leading all the way), and he will be right in it again,” Dakin said about the pacer who has won just over $14,000 in stake earnings this season.
Dakin has another three drives on the Launceston card, including the Conor Crook-trained National News in the Hillwood Berries Tasmania Stakes (2200m).
“He goes good on his day, and if he goes like he did when he last won (in 1:55.0s in early February), he will be hard to beat.
Dakin juggles his harness racing commitments around his full-time employment and football commitments, where he will play for the Evandale Football Club this season.
“I go and help Todd Rattray for a few hours in the morning and then go to work (as an accountant). It’s big days and big hours, but it is worth it, and if I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t be doing it, that’s for sure,” Dakin said.
