TASMANIAN harness racing breeders Fred and Pauline Barker have been producing star pacers for many years and the latest to make an impact on the racetrack is two-year-old filly After Lunch that delivered an outstanding debut effort to win the Evicus Prelude over 1609 metres at UBET Park Hobart last night.
After Lunch ($2.10 favourite) began brilliantly from her front row draw (4) to find the lead and her Victorian trainer-driver David Miles then ensured a solid pace throughout.
Star local filly Chika Bella, that had won her past four starts, was sent scurrying around the field to race outside of the leader to ensure After Lunch wasn't gifted the race.
But it made little difference to the leader that shrugged off the challenge and went on to score by over two metres from Chika Bella ($2.70) with outsider Maybe Charli ($51) over six metres away third.
After Lunch recorded a mile rate of 1.59.66 and ran home her last half (800m) in a slick 58.07.
Peter Staples