Prankster’s Hobart Thousand For Britton
Robert Britton has ended 2009 on a high after training Prankster to an all the way victory in the Group 1 Wrest Point Hobart Thousand last night. Starting a $5.20 third elect, Prankster made the most of the cherry draw and was able to run his opponents off their legs in a smart 26.05 for the 461m.
After Remo Rubik ($7.70) burst out of the traps, Prankster was able to boot up on the rails and hold the lead shortly after the start. Remo Rubik kept the pressure on heading towards the top turn, with NSW representatives Hurricane Luke ($12.30) and Disintergrate ($7.80) right there with them.
Race favourite, Silent Guardian ($3.00), was last out of the boxes, but came with a rush around the corner, and looked to be putting himself right in the race at the midway stage. But there wasn't enough room and interference was the result, with Remo Rubik, Silent Guardian and Disintergrate all losing ground.
Turning for home Prankster looked to have one paw on the trophy, and had set up a 4L break on his nearest competitor. Hurricane Luke tried his heart out to run him down, along with the well tried Gripen Bale ($4.50), who fired up along the rails and flashed home, but it was all too late.
Prankster still had 1.25L to spare on the line, and thoroughly deserved the $75,000 winners cheque. The Apr '07 son of Bombastic Shiraz and Classy Alice has now won 13 of his 30 career starts, and has earned over $120,000 in prizemoney for delighted owner Richard Lynch.
Hurricane Luke finished a game second for Ruth Matic, collecting $18,000 for his efforts, with Gripen Bale running another great race at Group level, picking up $8500 for third. Silent Guardian ran on well for fourth giving Darren McDonald plenty of confidence for the future. The remaining places going to Ultra Rumble (5th), Remo Rubik (6th), Disintergrate (7th) and following them all was local hope Hellbound, who gained a start from box eight, after the scratching of Bells Pace due to injury.
This surely won't be the last feature race win for Prankster, as he made an appearance in the Melbourne Cup final not even a month ago. Considering the dog doesn't turn three until April, he'll surely be a force to be reckoned with for the feature races around the corner, but for now congratulations to Robert and Richard for taking Tasmania's biggest prize.
The Hobart Thousand is the oldest feature race final in Australia it was first run as the Hobart Cup at the old TCA circuit in 1935. The race first became known as the Hobart 1000 in 1939, it reverted back to the Hobart Cup for two years in 1942 then was not held during the war years of 1944-45 and when the race recommended in 1946 it was again known as the Hobart Thousand.
Listed below are the names of many champions that have tasted victory in the time honored Hobart Thousand. It is certainly an impressive list of past winners.
Hobart Thousand Honour Roll
- 1935 Elwick Boy
- 1936 Miafort
- 1937 Loch Maree
- 1938 On Par
- 1939 Mr Whackles
- 1940 Silver Rover
- 1941 Cavalry
- 1942 My Kenya
- 1943 Askalon
- 1944 “Not Held”
- 1945 “Not Held”
- 1946 Ebon's Own
- 1947 Young Sign
- 1948 Hero Minda
- 1949 Erin's Ace
- 1950 Neat Brandy
- 1951 Pleasant Foam
- 1952 Baron Dhu
- 1953 The Mudlark
- 1954 Pasha Chief
- 1955 Minda Go
- 1956 Baron Woomera
- 1957 Rising Ace
- 1958 Rookie Rebel
- 1959 Peter's Treasure
- 1960 Bow Rock
- 1961 Ophir Doll
- 1962 Ophir Doll
- 1963 Ophir Gold
- 1964 Sandy Stone
- 1965 Fairbairn Lady
- 1966 Ipswich Low
- 1967 Fiery Bob
- 1968 Sue Narila
- 1969 Benjamin John
- 1970 Plunder Road
- 1971 Trion Scout
- 1972 Beau Palomino
- 1973 Sue's A Credit
- 1974 Jamin John
- 1975 Snowsim
- 1976 Beaut Dina
- 1977 Check Vista
- 1978 Royal Griffin
- 1979 Astradome Lad
- 1980 Scene Control
- 1981 Black Aztec
- 1982 Kudaleen
- 1983 Stony Point
- 1984 Double Time
- 1985 Brother Fox
- 1986 Solitary Simon
- 1987 White Gigolo
- 1988 True Vintage
- 1989 Scott James
- 1990 Bacchant
- 1990 Shantytown
- 1991 Jenny's Legacy
- 1992 Bomber Gleeson
- 1993 Extra's Boy
- 1994 Storm Hero
- 1995 Clint's Pirate
- 1996 Bomber's A Flyer
- 1997 Shantung Tiger
- 1998 Mirren Bale
- 1999 Latest Lad
- 2000 Top Shiraz
- 2001 Black Caleb
- 2002 Star Witch
- 2003 Nobody Knew
- 2004 Regent Thunder
- 2005 Ralph The Mouth
- 2006 Superman
- 2007 Train A Journey
- 2008 Little Spaniard
- 2009 Prankster