In Brief
- Two-year-olds have last hit out before Sweepstakes heats.
- Ben Yole stable plays a strong hand at the meeting.
- Racing commences at 17:42.
The Devonport Harness Racing Club will stage their first race meeting in 175 days on Sunday evening with a seven-race card.
The meeting is being run at Tier Two level with this week’s Tier 1 meeting being staged on Wednesday night in Launceston.
Race seven is for the two-year-olds, where a couple of pacers will have their final hit-out ahead of next week’s Sweepstake heats in Hobart.
Ironically, the last horse to win in Devonport was Agouda Ruler, who looks well placed in the race by winning four of his seven starts with his other five rivals yet to break their maiden status.
The gelded son of Betterthancheddar finished fourth last time out in Launceston on 19 July after doing a bit of mid-race work from a second-row draw in 2m 0.2s.
Trained by Wesley Vale’s John Castles, Agouda Ruler had won his four starts prior to that effort including in Launceston on 5 July where he recorded a career-best mile rate of 1m 59.9s after racing outside the leader.
Two of his four wins have been on the Devonport track.
Reinsman Charlie Castles takes the reins Sunday replacing the suspended Gareth Rattray.
The race is named the Larry Nichols Appreciation Pace, after hard working Devonport Harness Racing Club committeeman who owns and bred the pacer along with his wife, Liz.
Main dangers include the Todd Rattray-trained and driven pacer, Longfellow.
The Bettors Delight colt has been placed in all four starts to date and has drawn in barrier two.
He raced outside the leader in Launceston last start when defeated 1.1 metres after being sent out as the $1.90 favourite after a strong second placing in Launceston the start prior behind Stormy Sanz.
Dustydonowrong is an interesting first starter from the Taylor Ford stable who was well supported in betting overnight.
The Hes Watching colt showed good gate speed to lead in a Carrick trial that he went on to score in by 10 metres in 2m 7.0s with the final two quarters in 28.9s and 30.1s.
Taylor has handed the driving responsibilities over to her brother Dylan for tonight’s event.
However, Dustydonowrong is not paid up for the Sweepstakes series with a field of horses eligible for that series being able to be found here.
These three runners are the only horses under $15 in early markets.
Leading trainer Ben Yole plays a strong hand at the meeting with his stable making up 42 of the 63 starters at Sunday’s meeting.
The card commences with the Jamie Costello Appreciation Pace at 17:42.
Watch Dustydonowrong win a Carrick trial on 29 August.