Resurgent Spirit returned to harness racing after a five-month lay-off with a brilliant win in an open discretionary handicap over 2579 metres at Hobart on Sunday night.
The Roger Whitmore-trained gelding was spelled after winning the Brighton Cup in May that followed a game victory in the Plunkett Family Ascot Gold Cup.
The gelded son of American Ideal was a star juvenile who was unbeaten in nine starts as a two-year-old and he won his first four starts as a three-year-old before suffering his first defeat in the Tasmanian Derby.
On Sunday night he stepped well from his 10-metre handicap and after travelling 600 metres his driver James Austin sent the gelding charging around the field to take up the running.
He looked vulnerable on the home turn but when he was seriously challenged 200 metres out he dug deep and was drawing clear of his rivals on the line to score by over three metres.
Resurgent Spirit has notched 26 wins and 10 minor placings from 45 starts for $182,732 in stakes.
Peter Staples