Experienced Tasmanian reinsman John Walters celebrated a double at Luxbet Park Hobart last Sunday night to take his harness racing season tally to 34 which is the highest he has been on the premiership table in over a decade.
He partnered outsider Rockbank Dancer ($22) to an all-the-way win in the Eddie Hook Pace for C1-C2 pacers over 2090 metres and Walters capped the night when he guided the $2.60 favourite Another Derek to an all-the-way win in the CUB Pace (2090m) after taking advantage of the pole position.
While Walters has always been considered a quality reinsman he hasn't always been able to get behind the better quality horses but this season he has excelled and it probably has a bit to do with him winning the $40,000 Group 3 Easter Cup aboard Riverboat Jasper.
Walters's father Harry won an Easter Cup aboard Andy Cast in 1976 so when John matched that feat it boosted his confidence to an all-time high.
"There's no doubt winning the Easter up to accomplish something that my Dad did was a special moment for me and the records say we are only the second father and son to have won an Easter Cup so that's quite special," Walters said.
"There's probably a few reasons why I am getting more drives these days and one is that there aren't as many senior experienced drivers around like there was a few years ago.
"I am enjoying my driving more than ever and it would be fair to say that driving winners makes you keener and this is probably the most winners I have ever driven in a season," he said.
Walters, 53, is a great judge of pace and when aboard a horse with stamina he is hard to beat if able to lead, although his drive to emulate his late father's feat in this year's Easter Cup was arguably his best in years.
With 10 meetings remaining this season Walters is in sixth place on the premiership table courtesy of him having driven 34 winners but he also has finished second 29 times and snared 37 third placings for stake earnings of $226,728.
Peter Staples