Problem-plagued harness racing pacer Outback Mach delivered a career best effort to win the $25,000 Devonport Cup over 3020 metres in Devonport last night.
Outback Mach was given a gun run in the race by his trainer-driver Rohan Hadley who settled the gelding one-out and three-back and on the back of race favourite Resurgent Spirit.
Both horses travelled well to the bell lap when Resurgent Spirit's driver James Austin sent the favourite three-wide to make his run and Hadley was quick to find his back for a cart into the race.
Turning for home the end result was never in doubt as Outback Mach gained the upper hand from Resurgent Spirit and then had enough left in the tank to stave off a late bid Black Centurian with Resurgent Spirit hanging on for third.
It was Hadley's fourth Devonport Cup win as a driver having won previously with Hunter and Roi Soliel for his father Max Hadley in the 1990s and again with safe Rambler in 2007 that Rohan also trained.
The gelding is raced in partnership by the trainer's wife Vikky and Max Hall who also owned Safe Rambler.
"We had high hopes for this horse as a youngster because we sent him to Melbourne where he won five races but he developed problems and he has been injury prone which has prevented him from realising his full potential," Hadley said.
Peter Staples