In Brief
- Crook returns to the sulky.
- Trainer confident with Lord Stark.
- $15,000 in local tote jackpots.
Last Sunday reinsman Conor Crook was involved in a nasty race fall in Launceston and Friday night he will return to the sulky.
Crook was knocked out for several minutes after the fall and was in the Launceston General Hospital for one night under observation.
With 42 wins this season, Crook currently sits second on the state drivers title and has passed the relevant medical clearances to be back in the sulky this week.
“I drove trackwork the last few days and feel good and ready to go,” said Crook.
His best drive Friday night appears to be Monarkmac in race five, the Dakin Refrigeration Stakes over 1680 metres.
Installed as the $3.00 favourite when markets were released Friday morning, the 11-year-old gelding goes into Friday’s event after being defeated 1.2-metres by Resurgent Storm in Hobart on 3 July.
“He has been racing good, he just needs the race run to suit, and the right run into it,” explained Crook.
Yet to win in six tries over the track and distance, the Rohan Hillier-trained pacer has finished amongst the placings on four occasions.
“He always runs a good honest race,” said the driver.
Another strong chance for Crook to find his way into the winner’s list is with Lord Stark in race four, the Carlton Draught Pace.
Crook took over the training of the pacer in mid-March however Crook won’t be taking the drive tonight, instead deciding the point concession claim of driver Lachlan Dakin.
Since the COVID -19 shutdown the gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven has been runner up in Hobart on 19 June and again on 26 June before finding the winners list on 3 July.
“He has been going really good, he had his chance first-up but couldn’t win, second-up he got a long way back and put up a good run, and then last week he drew wide over the short trip so I thought I would use him up and try to get a few cheap sectionals and he did and proved too good,” explained Crook.
“It looks a pretty similar map tonight, I will tell Lachie to try and settle very handy and to try and dictate the race from the death or in front,” he said.
Crook will also drive Willybe (race two), Perfect Mach (race six) and Ima Birubi Boy (race seven) with all horses trained by Ben Yole.
Tonight’s meeting commences at 17:55 however there will be three trials held before the first race.
The grandstand will have full bar and catering facilities with the on-track tote back in operation.
The local tote has $15,000 of jackpots on the meeting including $5,000 on the Quinella on race one, plus a $5,000 Any 2 Jackpot on both races two and three.
If you can’t make it trackside, you can watch the action on TasracingTV and Sky Racing 2.
Watch Lord Stark win in Hobart on 3 July: