Fine win for Duggan mare

ADRIAN Duggan is a harness racing purist but three years ago he decided to dabble in thoroughbreds with his small team starting to produce good results.

In Launceston last Saturday night his mare Foreeva delivered a career-best effort to score an impressive win in a 0-60 handicap over 1400m.

The daughter of Turffontein was gifted to Duggan by her former owner-trainer Terry Evans and since she joined his small team of three the mare has won twice.

Her first win for Duggan was in Launceston in midJanuary on a heavy eightrated track and while she failed at her subsequent outing just over two weeks later, she bounced back with a vengeance last Saturday.

“I’m very proud of this mare because there’s not much of her but she tries hard every start,” Duggan said. “She’s done a terrific job this time in and she’s had two wins in the space of three starts so we couldn’t be happier.”

Duggan’s other gallopers are Heaven’s Heartbreak and April Baby with Heaven’s Heartbreak a placegetter at two of her past three starts.

Duggan has long been one of the state’s best trainers and he has represented the state as a driver many times.

“The harness team has been ticking over nicely with the odd feature race win this season,” he said.

“So all in all we are in a pretty good place in terms of success rate.”

Duggan’s trotter All the Way Mae also has found form of late with a resounding win three starts back at Elwick.

APPRENTICE jockey Ianish Luximon took his time landing his first winner at Elwick last week but as is often the case the talented rider from Mauritius has lifted in confidence and now has three to his credit from the past two meetings.

Luximon landed a double at Elwick last week and in Launceston last Saturday night he partnered the John Blacker-trained Silzoar to a last-stride win as the rank outsider ($16) in an open handicap over 1200m.

Luximon, who is indentured to Spreyton trainer Adam Trinder, landed in Tasmania

in December, but he was starting to become frustrated when after 14 rides he had failed to secure a winner. BILL RYAN’S talented mare Sh’bourne Star caused a small boilover in Launceston last Saturday night when she raced wide the trip but still had enough in reserve to forge clear in the straight and register a win in a benchmark 84 handicap over 1600m.

The mare was caught three-wide without cover to the home turn, but when rider Anthony Darmanin called on her to extend, she claimed the leaders and went on to score by almost three lengths.