Star Chamber pulls out home-straight surprise
FORMER Group 3 Tasmania Cup winner Star Chamber returned to form in Hobart on Sunday night with victory in the 2090m Governor’s Cup.
The nine-year-old pacer was set a task by driver Dylan Ford, who settled the gelding last in the field of nine.
Star Chamber ($31) was still last turning for home but when Ford called on the son of Our Sir Vancelot for a big effort in the home straight he ran home to score by 2m from Victorian mare Lets Elope ($3.40 fav) with Queens Advocate ($8) third ahead of Isaac ($4).
After winning the 2014 Tasmania Cup, the Bianca Heenan-trained pacer had two interstate campaigns and after a second sojourn across Bass Strait, which produced one win from 20 starts, he returned to Tasmania for four starts before being spelled for almost a year.
“The horse is returning to the form he showed a couple of years back and tonight he felt the best he’s been this season,” said driver Dylan Ford.
“He was always travelling well and it was good to see him racing with his head down.
“That’s when we know he’s feeling good. Bianca’s done a terrific job with him and I would expect he’ll head to the Easter Cup in Launceston in a fortnight, even though he’ll be off a tough handicap.”
While Heenan was celebrating the return to form of her stable stalwart, connections of Destreos would have been disappointed the gelding could not notch his 100th win.
Destreos led but faded in the final 100m to finish seventh.
Queensland driver Kelli Dawson, who partnered the gelding to victory more than 50 times in her home state, was far from disappointed.
“Win or lose, it’s always nice to be reunited with Destreos but it would have been nice to be aboard for his 100th win,” Dawson said.
“He tried hard but his fitness gave out because he hadn’t started for over two months.” THE thoroughbred night racing season, due to conclude on March 28, has been extended.
An extra night meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 24, to replace the Launceston meet scheduled for Sunday, April 22.
The meeting was changed to coincide with one in Singapore, with the Tasmanian meet to be beamed into that coun- try. Sky Channel will provide coverage through Sky Thoroughbred Central to include mounting yard coverage, form analysis, commentary and post-race interviews.
The last night meeting to be delivered to the French market is on March 21 with the second last night meeting the following Wednesday night. Night racing will go into recess until September.