Veteran Tasmanian harness racing trainer Paul Hill received an early Christmas present when former Victorian pacer Couta Rocks stormed home to win a heat of the Eric Reece Memorial over 2090 metres at Luxbet Park Hobart yesterday.
With ace driver Ricky Duggan in the sulky, Couta Rocks ($3.40 fav) settled beyond midfield from his wide second-row draw but looked to be travelling comfortably when Duggan sent him three-wide around the field in the back straight the last time.
The leader Iden Amrak ($3.60) was placed under pressure turning for home with Pockets of Courage looming as the winner but when Duggan eased his charge to the outside of the field the gelding answered the call and powered home to defeat Entreemaindesert ($34) with Shesastandout ($4.80) working home well to grab third ahead of Pockets of Courage.
It was the five-year-old Art Major gelding's first win for Hill and first in the state with his only other win coming at Shepparton in Victoria over a year ago.
"I'm pleased with his effort today and even though Ricky (reinsman Duggan) said he knocked off a bit when he hit the front he is improving all the time and I'm confident he'll continue to win," Hill said.
The Eric Reece Memorial final will be held in Hobart on New Year's Day. The first six home in each of the two heats qualified for a final berth.
Peter Staples