Deni Roberts claims AFDC

Western Australia’s Deni Roberts has claimed a narrow win in the 2024 Australian Female Drivers Championship in Launceston on Sunday night.

Roberts and Queensland’s Chloe Butler ended the six-race series with 49 points each.

Under HRA policy, a countback was required to determine the winner.

The officials had to go back to fifth place to declare the winner.

“It was a very competitive series. We had six different drivers win, and it was very good to go down to a close finish.

“I thought I had a good handle on the series until Didyalousarooster (in heat five) galloped when he looked the winner. But I was lucky to just scrape in,” said Roberts.

Third place was also determined by countback, going the way of New South Wales representative Taylah Osmond from South Australia’s Samantha Pascoe.

Here is how the night unfolded.

Heat 1

The host state quickly got on the board with Olivia Weidenbach driving Sweet Amour ($3.50 fav) to a 20.3m victory.

The Leigh Rand-trained mare was taken straight to the early lead and bowled along, running even times to record a winning mile rate of 1:59.0s.

“That was the way to win it, to keep them honest. I had to drive to win it, and once we found the front, she was unbeatable,” Weidenbach said after the win.

Heat 2

A new 2200m track record was set when Waterfront ($1.09 fav) ran a mile rate of 1:55.5s, taking 0.2s off the previous record set in April 2022.

WA’s Emily Suvaljko made the most of the pole draw to lead on the Emma Stewart-trained filly, who recorded a 15.1m win.

“I didn’t want to go that quick, but I knew she was rolling on. She hasn’t really been pushed out of the gate, and I came out a bit, and she got a bit keen on me when that horse (Triedtotellya) was outside of me, but once it dropped to my back, she settled nicely and did it comfortably on the line,” said Suvaljko.

Heat 3

A lovely drive by Queensland’s Chloe Butler in the one-one saw Magic Joe record his third win of the season in 1:59.1s.

The Todd Rattray-trained pacer was well found in betting, with the Tasracing Official Price showing the pacer being backed in from $61 to $18.

“He went super. He had the perfect trip, and it paid off in the end.

“He was travelling so well the whole way, and I couldn’t wait to pull out. I was just hoping that I didn’t have to go too early,” Butler said after the win on TasracingTV’s coverage.

Heat 4

Binalong Week (1.90 fav) was another impressive winner on the program when leading all the way to score by an ever-increasing  28.6m in a slick 1:56.2s, with series winner Deni Roberts in the sulky.

Trained by visiting Victorian trainer Craig Turnbull, the Always B Miki gelding was able to hold the lead from the pole draw, and completed a winning hatrick, with all three wins being in three different states, with the previous victories coming at Yarra Valley and Wagga.

“He still had a bit more in the tank too. He has got a good little motor, Roberts said.

Heat 5

Heat five changed complexion when Didyalousaroosta broke on the home turn when looking one of the main chances.

New South Wales driver Taylah Osmond flashed home down the outside on Nukes Skipper ($26) to score in a blanket finish with only 1.7m separating the first four placings, with the mile rate recorded in 2:00.7s.

The win took Wayne Yole’s Tasmanian season tally to 99 wins as he looks to become the fifth Tasmanian trainer to crack the ton for a season.

“He got a bit keen down on the fence, but we were able to pop off at the right time, and he was a bit too good for them,” Osmond said after the win.

Heat 6

Tasmania ended the night on a winning note with Tiarna Ford driving Hurricane Rock to victory.

The Sportswriter gelding was well found by punters, firming from $11 into $6.50.

Positioned three back in the running line, Ford improved the Adrian Duggan-trained pacer into the race from the 400m, where they sprinted home best to score by 2.4m in 1:59.5s.

“Addy (Duggan) and the team said if the speed was on, he should be there about. He got a nice run into the race and was too strong late,” Ford said about the win.

Final point score

1st – Deni Roberts (WA) 49,

2nd – Chloe Butler (QLD) 49,

3rd – Taylah Osmond (NSW) 45,

4th – Samantha Pascoe (SA) 45,

5th – Olivia Weidenbach (TAS) 43,

6th – Emily Suvaljko (WA) 41,

7th – Tiarna Ford (TAS) 35,

8th – Paige Bevan (QLD) 34,

9th – Grace Panella (NSW) 31,

10th – Bernadette Page (SA) 29,

11th – Ewa Justice (VIC) 26,

12th – Jackie Barker (VIC) 19.

*First and third placings were determined by a count back under HRA policy.