TASMANIA’S leading driver Gareth Rattray runs the risk of missing the rich Group 1 Tasmania Cup meeting in Hobart next month by seeking a stay of proceedings after he appealed against an eight-meeting suspension.
Rattray was suspended by stewards for allegedly failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to get his horse Lifttherunrate to finish in the best possible position
The stay of proceedings will allow Rattray to drive at the Launceston meeting on Sunday night where he will partner the Heath Szczypka-trained outsider Albert Jones in the feature race, the Doug
MartinDanburyPark Cup.
However, his best chances of victory on the eight-race program are with horses prepared by his grandfather Wayne Rattray.
He will partner Babyitsu in the Max & Erla Preece Memorial Pace and Karalta MacLeod in the Sanpan Pace and both are unbeaten this preparation and both are expected to contest feature races during the upcoming V75 Summer Harness Carnival from December 12-27.
Babyitsu will be aimed at the $20,000 Gold Label 4Y) Classic at Devonport on opening night on December 13 while Karalta MacLeod is expected to measure up in the $20,000 3YO Championship in Launceston on December 20 and the Tasmanian Guineas in Hobart a week later.
Rattray’s appeal will be heard on Tuesday and if unsuccessful he will not be able to drive until the New Year.