Westbury harness racing trainer Leigh Dornauf could not have asked for a better Tasmanian debut from recent stable addition Levi Jimmy.
The former NSW three-year-old was an impressive all-the-way winner at Mowbray on Friday night, scoring by 34 metres and rating 2:00.5.
He ran his last half in a smart 57.4 seconds.
Dornauf bought the gelding off the Internet for $10,000.
“I watched his races and his form was good,” the trainer said.
“His previous trainer had entered him for the Western Derby at Dubbo where he was due to race against horses that had won $100,000.
“I thought that was a good sign – it showed she had a fair opinion of him.
“She agreed to scratch him after I bought him.
“I thought getting him down here as a 3CO horse there would be wins in him.”
Levi Jimmy’s win completed an early double for driver Gareth Rattray who also scored on $21 outsider Martys For Real for leading trainer Ben Yole.
Yole’s second winner of the night, Modern Chic, was more popular with punters, backed into $2.70 favourite.
Riverside trainer Chester Bullock continued his good recent form when Cardinal Spec led all the way to provide favourite-backers with another winner.
Greg Mansfield
Reprinted with permission of The Examiner