Oaks top mission for Bliss

LAST season’s top two-yearold harness racing filly Ideal Bliss staked her claim on the upcoming Tasmanian Oaks with an all-the-way win in the Triple M Hobart 3YO Fillies Championship over 2090m at Elwick last night.

With ace Victorian reinsman Gavin Lang in the cart, Ideal Bliss ($1.60) began brilliantly from the pole position to easily hold the lead, while Vouvray Beach ($5.50) dropped in to take the sit with Victorian invader Ghadastar left to face the breeze.

When Lang slowed the tempo, Rohan Hadley sent Karpenkova Leis ($71) around the field to face the breeze, which gave Ghadastar cover for the final lap and she travelled sweetly to the home turn.

When Lang released the reins Ideal Bliss quickly put a gap on her rivals and sped into the home straight with a commanding lead.

But when Troy McDonald peeled Ghadastar wide to make her charge, she rattled home and fell short by only a head with Gift Of Joy, which had raced three-back the fence, powering home for third 4m away.

Ideal Bliss’s trainer Paul Hill was pleased with his filly’s effort.

He confirmed it was just a pipe-opener for the Tasman- ian Oaks to be run in Hobart in a fortnight.

“That was only her third start this time in and they [runs] have been well spaced, so she is going to take improvement from the run,” Hill said. TALENTED trainer Matthew Dwyer will aim smart mare Queens Advocate at the Easter Cup in Launceston at the end of the month following her impressive win in the Plunkett Family Ascot Gold Cup over 2579m.

Queens Advocate ($7.80) was allowed to settle near the rear of the field in the one-out line by driver Todd Rattray after the mare stepped safely from her front-row handicap while Black Centurian led with The Dip parked facing the breeze well into the back straight the last time.

Rattray sent his mare threewide in the back straight the last time with Star Chamber on her back for a ride home.

When Rattray called on Queens Advocate to sprint rounding the top turn, she responded well and raced to the lead then held out the fast-finishing Isaac ($10) with Black Centurian ($4) hanging on for third ahead of Star Chamber.

“I wasn’t sure where we were going with this mare beyond tonight, but I said that if she stepped well from the stand and raced well we’d head to the Easter Cup, so that’s where she’ll go,” Dwyer said.