Tasmanian harness racing trainer Ben Yole edged closer to achieving a personal milestone that would also land him in elite company.
No harness trainer in Tasmania has reached the milestone of training 100 winners for 20 years but Yole has it well within his sights.
In Devonport yesterday victories to Lake Eyre, Philtra Phella and Sutter Man took his season tally to 87 so with 12 meetings to the end of the season he looms set to have his name etched into the record books alongside Hall of Famers Neville Webberley and Barrie Rattray.
Lake Eyre was driven by Sam Gangell when he led all the way in the second heat of the BOTRA novice drivers' series and she shares the top of the points table with Matthew Howlett who also led throughout on first heat winner Art Of My Art.
Yole said that Lake Eyre, runner-up in the 2014 Tasmanian Derby when trained in Victoria, was now back in the state to stay.
"He has a few problem and he's a lot of hard work," Yole said.
"But he's a strong horse and he can win more races but we've got to keep him sound."
Yole's second winner, Philtra Phella, was claimed for $6000 by Barrie Rattray stable client Viv Clark.
Although Yole will be sorry to see the six-year-old leave his stable he wasn't complaining.
"We bought Philtra Phella as a C3 horse for $1500 in Victoria and this is his 11th win for us," Yole said.
"I reckon he's earned close to $50,000 since we've had him."
The stable treble was completed when Sutter Man led most of the way to make it a hat-trick of wins in the Collins Homes Pace.
Peter Staples