In Brief
- Iggy out to continue winning way.
- Ryley Major to take a step closer to back-to-back Apple’s.
- Final three heats of the Youngblood’s Challenge to be held.
Ignatius will be chasing his fourth win in a row when he tackles the first heat of the Tassie Golden Apple in Launceston on Sunday night.
The Todd Rattray-trained and driven pacer appeared to be a touch disappointing in his first three starts back in Tasmania before winning his last three races on end.
“I always said it would take a few runs to reach his peak,” said Rattray.
Ignatius most recent win was in Hobart on Sunday where he led all the way to score by 14 metres in a mile rate of 2m 0.7s with the last half mile recorded in 56.3s, which shows how softly the pacer ran the early stages of the race.
“The track was pretty wet and shifty, he felt good over the line and has come through it well,” said the trainer-driver.
Rattray has given the gelded son of Roll With Joe an easy week on the track ahead of Sunday’s race.
“I didn’t do a lot with him this week as the final will be his third run in three weeks,” he explained.
Sunday’s race is no easy task, particularly with many progressive talents in the race, headlined by recent Show Cup winner The Shallows.
“It is a hard race over the 2200 (metres) and being off 30 metres as he isn’t quick away makes it tough, plus there is a few good horses off the front and 10 metres,” Rattray said.
The trainer-driver said he would assess the future plans for Ignatius after the Golden Apple series has completed.
Last year’s Golden Apple winner Ryley Major will contest the second heat where he shares the 30-metre handicap with Illegal Immigrant.
The first six placegetters in each heat will progress into Saturday night’s $30,000 Final.
Another feature on the Launceston card is the final three heats of the Youngblood’s Challenge.
The series which promotes the state’s best up and coming drivers commenced in Hobart last week with three heats.
Races one, three and five make up Sunday’s final round of heats.
Youngblood’s points table; 33 Sam Clotworthy, 26 Georgia Hayward, 22 Matthew Howlett, Ben Woodsford and Sam Gangell, 21 Charlie Castles, 18 Malcom Jones, 14 Bronte Miller, 11 Lachlan Dakin and 9 Andrew Freeman.
Sunday’s card commences at 17:37, with race one to be shown on Sky Racing 2 and the remainder on Sky Racing 1, all races will be streamed on TasracingTV.
Watch Ignatius lead all the way to win in Hobart last week.