Budding harness racing trainer Luke Hooper chalked up his fifth career win at Parkes on Wednesday night.
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Hooper’s trained Lightning Scooter paced to a second victory from three starts in the Parkes Betta Home Living Pace (1660m), edging out Cowra pacer Dot Ayou by a neck in a speedy mile rate of 1:58.8s.
Hooper said he likes racing at Parkes and knew he’d have a good chance if he got an early lead.
“He’s won two of three he’s going good. He’s starting to hit his straps,” Hooper said.
“I like racing at Parkes. He’s a leader and if you find the front at Parkes and get the kick at the top of the straight it’s hard to catch you.
“I didn’t have it in the bag. We got to the lead and had a breather and they had to catch him. When you get that breather it really helps.”
Hooper took his five-year-old gelding from barrier four to the front of the pack in race five on the program.
The pair maintained a lead throughout the journey and held off a late charge from Nathan Turnbull and Dot Ayou while race favourite Rockn Rolln couldn’t make the ground and settled for third.
It marked Lightning Scooter’s second win from three starts having won at the venue on March 2.
“He had a few issues being immature but we’ve slowly sort them out. He’s five-years-old now and he’s matured a lot in the past eight weeks so it looks like he’s turned a corner,” Hooper said.
I didn’t have it in the bag. We got to the lead and had a breather and they had to catch him.
- Luke Hooper
“He’s gone up in class now. I got nothing set we’ll see how he pulls up and we’ll work him for a week or so.
“He’s done the job for me so I have to look after him.”
Hooper, now based at Grenfell, only has Lightning Scooter in work at the moment which made Wednesday night’s win even sweeter.
It was his fifth trained victory and the fourth winner he’s driven since establishing a stable about three years ago in Cowra.
“I haven’t had many but fives better than none,” he said.
Hooper’s brother Conor Crook is still driving for Tasmania’s leading trainer Ben Yole.
Crook’s getting plenty of drives and has chalked up about 12 victories since making the move during the middle of last year.
Yole’s leading this season’s Tasmanian training premiership.
“He’s driving really well,” Hooper said of his brother.
