Kingman takes out Tasmanian Derby

The Emma Steward trained Always B Miki 3-year-old Kingman was a class above his rivals in the Tasmanian Derby at Hobart on Saturday night, winning in a new track record time for his age group.

Held up in the Victoria Derby at his last start, luck was taken out of play this time round with Kingman taken to the front soon after the start.

Leading comfortably throughout Kingman quickened the tempo down the backstraight, running his last half in 54.6 seconds and crossing the line almost 4m clear of the second placed horse Collective Works.

Kingmanʻs winning mile rate of 1:57.5 for the 2,579m trip equalled the all-age track record for the distance and was a new track record for a 3-year-old pacer.

It was his eighth career win and took his earnings to $127,069.

He is out of the Dali mare Gotta Go Dali Queen, making him from the maternal family of the champion  New Zealand filly Elect To Live, who as a 3-year-old won the Australian Pacing Derby at Launceston in Tasmania.