John “Bulldog” Nicholson is no stranger in sending horses to Tasmania, and the Victorian trainer produced another smart pacer in the state on Sunday night when Micton Mouse was able to claim the Cliff Robins Memorial Pace for two-year-olds.
The gelded son of Stonebridge Regal showed brilliant gate speed to lead and dictate affairs in the $10,000 feature in a slick mile rate of 1m 57.9s, which was just 1.2s outside the two-year-old age record on the Launceston circuit.
Nicholson gave driving responsibilities to stable employee and former Tasmanian Jack Laugher who explained that the horse is still learning the racing game.
“His first race at Yarra Valley he led very easy and took a bit of cover and he was a bit green being his first time round,” Laugher said after Sunday’s win.
“He is going to get better with more racing under his belt,” the driver added.
The main mission for the trip was to secure the pacer’s $5,000 TASBred bonus.
Micton Mouse was bred by Jack’s parents Michael and Toni Laugher out of their mare Massie Mouse, making the gelded son of Stonebridge Regal a half brother to Metro Mouse the winner of 13 races.
“He will go for a spell now and come back as a three-year-old. I’m unsure if the owners will spell him down here or back in Victoria,” the winning driver said about the future plans going forward.
Micton Mouse scored by four metres over Beat City with Karalta Courage 3.6 metres away third.
Courageous Katee will claim this season’s Mare Of The Year title in Launceston, and the Dick Eaves-trained mare extended her unbeatable lead with another brilliant win, this time in the Beena Buster Pace.
The daughter of Courage Under Fire raced three-wide and one-back over the final circuit and was too tough for her rivals late, courtesy of a good drive by Adrian Collins.
“It suits her when there is a bit of speed on,” trainer Dick Eaves said post-race.
“Tonight’s race suited her nicely and she got a good cart into it,” the Karoola based trainer said.
“He is a strong boy Adrian (Collins) and you need to be with her, if somebody drives her that has a bit of trouble holding her they tend to go before acceptances and Adrian seems to sit there that bit longer,” Eaves explained.
Courageous Katee was a run away winner by 6.3 metres in a mile rate of 2m 1.2s.
Illegal Immigrant proved too quick for Harjeet in the Jubilee Bakery Free For All.
Troy Hillier was happy to follow Harjeet every step of the way in the one-out one-back trail before finishing the race off strongly in the home straight to record a half-head victory.
“He got tired on the line but he was probably entitled to,” trainer-driver Troy Hillier said after the win.
Hillier has no major plans going forward with the gelded son of American Ideal.
“There’s a free for all here in a fortnight, that’s all we have looked at so far,” he said.
The mile rate for the 2200-metre event was 1m 57.2s.
Arguably the run of the night came in the Jullian Roberts Stakes when Similan Beach came flashing down the outside of the track to record his third win of the season.
The gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere was last with 300 metres to travel and the only option driver Ricky Duggan has, was to peel eight-wide in the home straight and the Marc Butler-trained pacer was still able to pick up his rivals and score in a mile rate of 1m 57.7s for 1680-metres.
Duncan Dornauf