Hayley McCarthy returned from an injury enforced layoff in the best possible manner at last Friday night’s Launceston meeting, winning on her first mount.
She teamed with her partner Dylan Clark to guide his ex-Victorian charge Team Heist to success in the maiden plate over 1400 metres.
The gelded son of Tivaci settled rearward in the small six-horse field and didn’t go around a rival before nailing pacesetter Arianna’s Gold, who’d drifted off the inside rail under pressure in the drive to the line.
It was McCarthy’s first meeting back since breaking a collarbone at Devonport last May.
Inside running
With the rail out seven metres the fence proved the place to be at Launceston, and Troy Baker and Codi Jordan took full advantage of the bias, each notching a brace of wins courtesy of ground-saving rides.
Baker’s first success came via the Sarah Cotten-trained Colleen’s Crown, who scored in similar manner to Team Heist in the 1200-metre maiden plate.
The daughter of Hallowed Crown was a noted drifter in betting ($6-$10) but had hit the line hard over the same route at her previous outing.
Baker later combined with his partner Siggy Carr to take the Class 3 handicap over the same trip with Obviously Good, who proved too strong after enjoying a box-seat trail.
The Exosphere gelding has been progressing through the grades in fine style this prep, with Friday night’s success his third from his past four outings.
Jordan combined with Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson for both her wins, kicking off with promising filly Who’s In Dev, who also enjoyed a gun trail behind the leader in the Class 1 handicap over 1400 metres.
The daughter of Written By has now won two of her past three starts and hasn’t missed a place in seven appearances.
Jordan and Stevenson completed their double with Hurricane Ketut, who enjoyed a nice trial just off the speed before wearing down leader and short-priced favourite Hartman in the concluding stages of the benchmark 68 handicap over the same trip.