Tasmanian Performances During The Week
Alex Ashwood
Alex Ashwood was the star at Ballarat last Wednesday night when he drove a treble. His first winner was Mojo Major, a 2YO trained by his father Rodney and part owned by Alex and his mother Paige. Mojo Major was having his third race start after two unplaced runs in January. Alex completed the treble with Western Gretel and Our Dreamlover.
Chip and Gale
Chip and Gale (Caesar Blue Chip – Bar Ron) was bred by Barrie Rattray and his next door neighbour Ron Eeles. Bar Ron is a half sister to Gorses Bush – the dam of Beautide.
Chip and Gale was one of Australias best 3YO Fillies. She won the Tasmania Oaks in 2001, was fourth in the NSW Oaks and finished second in the $100,000 NSW Sires Stakes Final. She was then sold to America.
Her Australian record was 25 starts for 16 wins, four placings and $129,460 in stake money. She retired from racing in America at 11 years of age with a career record of 300 starts for 65 wins, 85 placings and $563,343 in stake money.
In 2010, Chip and Gale was purchased by prominent West Australia breeder Robert Watson. Her first foal is Soho Jagger, a 3YO gelding by Art Major. Soho Jagger won at Mildura last Friday taking his career record to 15 – 4 – 3 – 0 – $18,775.
Ken Rattray
Ken Rattray, relative of the Wayne and Barrie Rattray clan, was a prominent trainer/ driver in Tasmania in the eighties and early nineties. His top performers included Ebony Mac (25 wins), Bradford Hanover (12 wins) and Hae Zeus (12 wins).
He moved to Queensland and renewed his trainer’s license there in 1995. In August 2008, he took over the training of the 4YO gelding Destreos – a New Zealander with a record of 50 – 7 – 7 – 11. Since then, Destreos has raced almost every week.
Last Saturday night, Rattray took Destreos to Menangle, possibly to avoid Im Themightyquinn at Albion Park. Ten year old Destreos won the $17,500 free for all and took his record to 321 starts for 73 wins, 102 placings and $584,365 in stake money.
Destreos is fast closing in on what is believed to be the Australasian record for the most starts for a harness horse. The Queenslander Hal Thomas was 15YO when he was retired in October 2010 after 377 starts, 65 wins, 118 placings and $261,443 in stake money.
Delightful Christian
Delightful Christian won a $20,000 M1/M3 mares race at Menangle on Saturday night. Trainer/driver James Rattray pushed forward from a wide draw and settled on the fence behind the leader. The pace was solid throughout and Delightful Christian moved off the fence in the home straight and won easily by six meters posting a career best 1:52.1.
Delightful Christian has won her last two at Menangle and four in total at that venue. Her win time has improved with each victory – 1:54.4, 1:54.3, 1:53.5 and 1:52.1.
Laterron
Laterron was in the same race and her run was huge. A half sister to the previously mentioned Chip and Gale, Laterron settled last from a wide draw and worked home well to finish fourth.
Melton on Friday Night
The Majority
The Majority, trained by David Dwyer, is entered for a $16,275 M0 heat – R2 N6. The Majority is a last start Hobart winner on 30 June.
Hugo Play
Hugo Play, owned by Bill and Tamra Fawdry, is entered for a $17,505 M2/M4 – R5 N2. Hugo Play led into the Melton straight on 20 June at his first start back from a five month spell after doing plenty of work in the early stages of that race. He is drawn to get an easier run on Friday night.
Albion Park on Saturday Night
Big Zee
Big Zee is entered for an $11,000 Q0 – R3 N6.
Lilbitachicknfried
Lilbitachicknfried is entered for the $45,0004YO and 5YO Championship – R4 N9. It is a quality race and by far the toughest assignment Lilbitachicknfried has faced in his 12 months of racing in Queensland.
Menangle on Saturday Night
Laterron
Laterron, owned by Zeke Slater and now trained in NSW by Dennis Wilson, is entered for a $17,500 M1/M4 – R2 N6.
Karalta Impulse
Karalta Impulse, a two year old filly owned by Wayne and Gaye Rattray, is entered in the $50,000 NSW Breeders Challenge – R7 N5.
Sunday Twilight at Launceston – Eleven Races on Sky 1
Kevin Gillies
The LPC is hosting an appreciation night for Kevin Gillies. Kevin is facing a significant health challenge and the club is acknowledging the outstanding contribution that Kevin makes to harness racing in the Northern region.
A highlight of the meeting is two divisions of the two year old after 20 horses accepted for the event.
Pachacuti and Franco Sheffield
Pachacuti continues his march towards the Breeders Crown in Race 8 and exciting three year old Franco Sheffield is attempting his fifth consecutive win in Race 6.
Tasmanian Australasian Breeders Crown Heats for the two year olds are races 10 and 11. Horses will be attempting to qualify for the $20,000 semi finals at Ballarat on Saturday 16 August with the finals scheduled for Melton on Sunday 24 August.
Barynya
Star filly Barynya will also appear in a race of her own at some stage during the meeting. She was the only acceptor for the 3YO Breeders Crown Heat at Hobart on Monday night. The race has now been moved to Launceston and she will complete the course in a solo workout which will put her straight into the Breeders Crown semi finals at Ballarat on 16 August.
Monday Night at Hobart – Seven Races on Sky 1
The first is at 6.17 and the last at 9.16.
Harness Form Analysis
Information on both Launceston and Hobart will be available at www.tasracing.com.au in the Punters Corner section.