Talented Tasmanian pacer Scooterwillrev will head to Melbourne this week at the top of his game and ready to take on some of the best harness racing juveniles in Australasia.
The Craig Hayes-trained two-year-old will tackle a semi-final of the rich Group 1 Breeders Crown series at Bendigo on Saturday night and he goes into the race undefeated from six Tasmanian starts with is latest effort producing a resounding win in Launceston on Sunday night.
In a 2C0-2C1 event over 2200 metres, the well-bred youngster worked to the lead midrace and when driver Rohan Hadley asked for an effort turning for home the gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere burst clear of the undefeated Hafter and went on to defeat that gelding by 15 metres.
Scooterwillrev (Somebeachsomewhere-Karamea Toastime) clocked a mile rate of 1.58.75 and sizzled home his last half (800m) in 58.68 but with something in reserve.
It was a state 2YO record with the previous best by a two-year-old of 1.59.4 produced by Cody Maverick in Hobart (2090m) June 2008 and obliterated the Launceston 2YO record of 2.00.6 set by Quastor Centurion in July 2010.
It was the second time Hadley had driven the gelding and he was impressed with this latest performance.
"This is a serious horse. He felt enormous throughout the race and when I gave him just a bit of rein turning for home he just slipped clear and there was quite a bit left at the finish," Hadley said.
It was exactly what Hayes was hoping for given his stable star is about to go up against the best juveniles in Australasia.
"When you've got a horse as god as this you are always worried whether you are doing all the right things so that's why I had Rohan (Hadley) drive him in this race," Hayes said.
"I have driven him in all but one of his wins (Burnie) so it was quite nerve wracking sitting in the stands watching the race.
"The horse has been open to every challenge I've put in front of him and tonight he really delivered but he had to if he is going to be competitive when he tackles the Breeders Crown semi.
"I'm happy that he produced his best mile rate and that he did it with a bit in reserve."
Scooterwillrev is a half-brother to former star juvenile filly-mare Jadah Rose (x Totally Ruthless) that won the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series in her gender category at two and three as multiple Group placings. She also won the 2007 Mother of Pearl for four-year-old mares at Devonport before finishing third in the Group 1 George Johnson behind No More Trouble and star Tasmanian mare Deanna Troy.
"When we went to the Melbourne yearling sale we were keen to get this horse and we had a budget of $40,000 but when we saw him we were committed and we had to go to $42,000 but reckon he was worth it," Hayes said.
Scooterwillrev will most likely be driven on Saturday night by top Victorian driver Kerryn Manning.
Peter Staples