Samantha Freeman and Allister Woods took the honours on the opening night of the BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series at Devonport on Friday night.
Samantha Freeman was first to clock up maximum points, guiding the John Castles-trained Flying Wingard to victory, much to the delight of punters who had backed the Badlands Hanover-Truffieres four-year-old in into $3.10 favouritism.
Samantha gave Flying Wingard a charmed run over the 2297-metres, slipping into the one-one early before easing out three wide coming for the bell.
“We we’re very happy with the way Samantha drove Flying Wingard as he can be a little tricky to handle, she positioned him well and backed her judgement with just over a lap to run and the result vindicated her decision.” said trainer John Castles.
“That was Flying Wingard’s first run for the stable, we’ve had him since the beginning of May and he’s been balloted out twice but he won his trial here at Devonport on Monday night in good style and carried that form through to tonight.”
The Shelley Barnes-trained Little Bit Of Big, driven by Conor Crook, finished second 7.2- metres away with Matthew Cooper steering the Steven Davis-prepared outsider Out To Strike into third place.
Ima Ginger Rogers (pictured) broke through for the first time this season by leading all the way for Allister Woods in Heat two of the Series.
The Sportswriter-Apple Sorbet six-year-old-mare won five of 15 starts last season but has struggled to recapture her best form running just six placings from 17 outings in the 2017/18 season.
Ima Ginger Rogers showed an abundance of gate speed into the first turn to hold the lead and from that point on Allister dictated terms to a nicety to land the money by 7.7-metres from El Jay’s Monet, driven by Samantha Gangell for Ken Rattray with Lee Simmonds and the Adam Emery-trained Ektoras third.
The Series moves to Hobart on Sunday night with the running of heats three and four and Allister will have the opportunity to continue his bright start when he partners the Thomas Jackson-trained Finn Mac Kee in race three while Samantha will guide last-start winner Pushkin in the opening race on the nine-event card.
Shane Yates