Spitfire Rose gave her harness racing trainer-driver Rohan Hadley his biggest win in ages when she toughed it out facing the breeze to win the $20,000 George Johnson feature for mares at Luxbet Park Hobart yesterday.
Spitfire Rose ($5) raced outside of the leader Angels of Demons that was backed in to start the $1.40 favourite but when Hadley asked his charge to extend turning for home she forged to the lead and went on to score comfortably from outsiders Modern Chic ($51) and Zumba Bromac ($17) while the favourite capitulated and finished a distant last.
It was Spitfire Rose's second win in the race having been successful in 2014 when driven by Gavin Lang.
"She is a very good mare and I'm sure she has plenty more to give," Hadley said.
"Today was more a race of tactics because I thought that if I had my mare at the favourite all the way then my mare's toughness might shine through and that's pretty much how it panned out.
"We've got a few plans for this Jereme's Jet mare next year and hopefully she can win another nice race."
Hadley suffered an illness about two years ago that kept him sidelined for about eight months which is why he had to call on Gavin Lang to drive the mare in the 2014 George Johnson.
Peter Staples