Our horses won 15 races and $120,000 while campaigning in Victoria ... we'll go back in April
- Trainer Ben Yole
Leading trainer Ben Yole has closed down his Victorian satellite stable for the next few months and will concentrate all his efforts on winning races in Tasmania.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He was doing just that at Devonport on Friday night when his winners included Somedan, one of the horses he has just brought home.
Despite a back row draw, Somedan was too good for his rivals in the Roberts Rural Pace.
Somedan won at Mildura two starts earlier and was down sharply in class after contesting a $20,000 race at Melton at last run in Victoria.
Earlier, Yole and driver Troy McDonald also teamed up to win the John McKenna Pace with The Lemondrop Kid.
"He's a limited horse but he's got a couple more wins in him around the country tracks," the trainer said.
Yole's travelling team won 15 races and $120,000 while in Victoria.
"I was very happy with that," the trainer said. "I have too many horses for Tasmania during the period when there's only one meeting a week.
"And, you can place your horses a bit better over there.
"We'll go back again in April."
FRANKIE BREAKS LONG DROUGHT
Frankie Falzoni won his first race for 22 months when he led throughout from the pole in the Trainers Encouragement Pace.
But it was almost a win by default as the race wasn't originally on his schedule.
Broadmarsh trainer Chris Howlett explained that he'd only decided to bring the nine-year-old to the meeting to keep another horse company.
"I was bringing one of Elliot Booth's horses up to the Coast to give to Rod Burgess and only I brought this one up as a travelling companion," Howlett said.
"He was suited when he drew the pole because he needs to lead. If he doesn't, he goes for his knee."
Frankie Falzoni, driven by the trainer's son Matthew, has now won 10 races but hadn't been in the winner's circle since scoring at Mowbray in January 2018.
SURREAL DRIVE LANDS MONEY
A nice drive by Hannah Van dongen helped Alta Surreal to his ninth Tasmanian win in the CUB Claimer.
After settling behind the leader, Van dongen got into the one-out line at the 1000m then extricated herself from a pocket approaching the home turn, allowing Alta Surreal to round up the leaders.
The former Queensland eight-year-old was having only his third start for Brighton trainer Taylor Ford.
Todd Rattray brought up a driving double when Kuzma led all the way for an easy win. He scored earlier on Hypersonic Drive for Heath Szczypka.
