After The Chase delivers Hoare his first feature final

Port Pirie trainer Trent Hoare is trying to forge a career in harness racing and landed his biggest prize in a short career at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.

After The Chase ($3 fav) turned in a last-to-first victory in the Bianco Reinforcing Pace Final (1800m) to give 33-year-old Hoare his best training success.

“Pre-race, I believed After The Chase was the one to beat, but I was very nervous, just hoping everything went well,” Hoare said.

“Fortunately there was a bit of tempo early which suited him perfectly and he was good enough to win. It was my first win in a feature final.”

After The Chase, driven by Michael Smith, drew clear to win by four metres from Lunchinheaven ($31) with Whitestarchristian ($3.80), a metre away third.

“It is hard to believe, but I still think After The Chase is immature, even though he is nine-years-old and was having his 39^th start,” Hoare said.

“He wants to hang during his races, and if he had gone straight tonight would have won easier.

“But he does have a great turn of speed which is crucial and helps him.”

Smith said he had no option but to settle last in the field of nine.

“He came from the outside of the second row and if I had tried to go forward would have been trapped wide,” Smith said.

“Once there was good tempo I knew he would be very hard to beat, it was just keeping him out of trouble.

“He sprinted strongly but still wanted to hang which didn’t help, however, he was too good.”

After The Chase was purchased in a package by Shane Smith and Melissa Jarrett from Victorian trainer Paul Tonkin.

In a good night for Port Pirie trainers, Tommy Mach took out the Ray White Commercial Adelaide Pace (2230m).

The six-year-old is trained in partnership by Martin Schrader and Brian ‘Butch’ Smith and it was his third win this year.

It was a good tonic for Schrader who earlier this year had a triple heart bypass operation.

“I am feeling good now but still taking things a bit steady,” Schrader said.

“Working with the horses helps and wins such as tonight are a bonus.”

Concession driver Bernadette Page settled Tommy Mach ($5) midfield in the running line before coming wide from the 600-metre mark.

The gelding still had the job ahead but sprinted strongly late to score by a head from Whata Optimist ($4.20) with the leader Jawsofgoodtime ($3.20 fav), a half neck away third.

Schrader said Tommy Mach was raced on lease from Victorian owner-breeder John Campbell.

“John has been wonderful for our stable.

“He also bred Zany Girl which ran third for us tonight in the opening racer, and she is a half-sister to Tommy Mach.

“Apparently they were considered too slow for Victoria but Butch and I are more than happy to have them here in South Australia.”

For Smith, who drove After The Chase, he brought up a double winning on trotter Daisy Bouchea for Bagot Well trainer Peta Brown.

Daisy Bouchea ($5) came along the sprint lane to win the Hahn Super Dry Trotters Handicap (2230m) by 2-1/2 metres from Bitta Irish Luck ($8) with Bishop George ($5), 1-1/2 metres away third.

Smith settled the winner second early, happy to trail stablemate Our Spitfire which had led.

The placegetters put pressure on the leader turning for home to take control but had no answer to Daisy Bouchea’s sprint.

It was the winner’s third victory with nine placings from 22 starts this season, and she does trot well for Smith.

One of the impressive winners at Globe Derby Park was Delightful Dream in heat one of the Kevin & Kay Seymour Emerging Starts Pacers Series (1800m).

Trained and driven by Samantha Hill, Delightful Dream ($2.20 fav) sat parked before racing away for a nine-metre win from Stylistik ($26) with Zany Girl ($6), eight metres away third.

Hill said she had been disappointed with the three-year-old’s fifth a week previous.

“I thought he would run well and was lost for an explanation, but I think tonight showed he is a colt that wants to have a solid tempo throughout,” Hill said.

“It was funny early. I went to sit outside the leader then Mark (Phillips) came up three wide whistling his horse to improve but all it did was make my bloke keen and I kept my spot.

“He raced keenly but loved doing the work and dashed away.”