When well-bred harness racing pacer Boltnmach debuted with a very disappointing performance two years ago to finish over 30 metres from the winner his trainer Justin Campbell was in two minds about continuing with the son of Mach Three.
But two years on the gelding has more than paid his way and at UBET Park Hobart last night he notched his sixth win to take his career earnings to almost $50,000.
Boltnmach was dropping back sharply in grade having been delivering honest performances in C3-C4 events so Campbell was expecting him to improve dropping back to a C1 event courtesy of a claim for novice driver Adrian Collins.
The well-backed Bobby Jo ($4.50) led from gate three and while Boltnmach ($4 into $2.30) was forced to race three-wide for the first 600 metres Collins eventually urged his charge forward to face the breeze.
The leader set only a modest tempo so Boltnmach wasn't forced to expend too much energy in the run.
When Collins called on his charge to extend near the home turn he sped clear and had enough in hand to stave off a late challenge from Tango Terrific ($10) that failed by a short half-head with Thatswhatshesaid ($5) a closing third.
"I was fairly confident he would win tonight because he was dropping back considerably in class and his form going into the race was very good," Campbell said.
"He isn't a difficult horse to train but sometimes he can be a bit of a pig on the training track and that was the case this week but usually when he's in that sort of mood at home he races really well so I told a few people to have something on him tonight."
"Adrian (Collins) did a good job by letting him roll to the death and I thought the horse toughed it out well when the runner-up came at him," he said.
Peter Staples