Im Compliant digs deep

FORMER New Zealand pacer Im Compliant had to pull out all stops to keep his Tasmanian unbeaten record intact in a C3-C5 pace over 2090m in Hobart last night.

Im Compliant ($1.70) was forced to face the breeze outside of the leader Lockaway Kacie ($11) for the last 1400m and it wasn’t until the favourite’s trainer-driver Rohan Hillier called on his charge to dig deep that the gelding knuckled down to his task.

Im Compliant (Live or DieMood Indigo) forged clear near the line to score by just over 2m from Lockaway Kacie with Usain Jolt ($5) flashing home last to grab third about 3m away.

“That will have done him the world of good,” Hillier said.

“We had a look for the lead when I whisked him around the field but he relaxed well in the death.

“The leader fought on really well but my horse did what he had to do to get the job done.”

It was a courageous effort from the winner, which has the impressive record of five wins from as many starts since he arrived in Hillier’s stables earlier this year.

Hillier said he is hoping Im Compliant can win another couple to reach open class before he gives him a spell, with plans to aim him at races such as the Hobart Pacing Cup and Devonport Cup next preparation. Lockaway Kacie also did enough to suggest he isn’t far off winning another one in the same grade. ABS BOY made up for a luckless outing in Launceston last Sunday with a brilliant win in a C1-C2 event over 1609m.

The Greg Scott-trained four-year-old produced a powerful sprint in the home straight under the guidance of driver Mark Yole who eased the gelding off the marker pegs to switch three-wide to make their charge.

Once balanced, Abs Boy ($8) set sail after the leader Big Bang Raj ($91) and went on to score by almost 4m from Miss Atomic Betty ($12).

Big Bang Raj was a close-up third.

It was Abs Boy’s second win this preparation.