JASON Maskiell scored the most significant win of his comeback at Mowbray on Wednesday night.
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Since he returned to the saddle in August, Maskiell has been desperately trying to win a race for his grandfather Ken Hanson.
It finally came in the Class 1 Plate when Maskiell got Kingclere home by a neck to end a run of four consecutive seconds.
Hanson trains the four-year-old in partnership with his daughter Tanya and the family is heavily involved in the ownership.
Maskiell. who has ridden 11 winners since returning from a long layoff, has described his grandfather as his greatest supporter.
WOOHOO TRIUMPH
Tasmanian-owned and trained mare Woohoo won the first ever running of The Hotham at Ballarat on Thursday.
The novelty $50,000 maiden attracted 151 entries and those with the worst records made the final field.
With five placings from her previous 19 starts, Woohoo was one of the better-performed runners and started at $7.50
Jockey Brian Higgins sat her just behind the pace before taking control in the last 100 metres.
Co-trainer Trent Wells said he realised the race was “taking the ….” out of The Everest in Sydney but he was happy to “come over and have a crack.
“A few people laughed at us a bit but you can’t take life too seriously,” he said.
“There’s a couple of new owners in this horse and it means a lot to them because I don’t think they’ve had a win before either.”
Spreyton-based Wells, who trains in partnership with his father Leon and brother Dean, said he was hoping there would be another Hotham for class 1 horses next year.
“In the meantime, if someone wants to buy her we’re happy to leave her here and take the trophy home,” he said.
HARNESS RETURNS
Harness racing returns to Devonport on Friday night for the first of 13 meetings at the track this season.
With a big nine-race card in Hobart on Sunday night, the Devonport program consists of only six races, starting at 6.54pm and finishing at 9.19pm.
Leading trainer Ben Yole has 33 of the 61 final acceptors.
In one race, the Maxfield Drilling Pace, Yole has 10 horses including the emergency.
Six meetings into the new season, Yole heads the premiership table with 14 wins from a massive 206 starters.
Todd Rattray has eight wins from only 25 starters while Rohan Hillier has the best strike-rate with five wins from 12 starters.