It was another big week of harness racing in Tasmania.
Only one meeting was held last week but like always when there is one meeting, it was thrilling racing with the win of The Shallows in the Show Cup being one of many highlights on the night.
This weekend we have two meetings in the state, a rain-affected track is expected for Devonport on Friday with a lot of rain anticipated to fall on the north-west coast throughout Thursday, with the main meeting of the week in the state in Hobart on Sunday where heats of the two-year-old Sires’ Stakes series will be held.
The Stars
The Shallows – at his second start in open class racing the Heath Woods-trained and driven pacer was able to take out the Tasmanian Horse Transport Show Cup. It was the first standing start race for the four-year-old Shadyshark Hanover gelding who has now won 12 of his 26 starts.
Lord Stark– registered his second win at his 21st try for the season with a dominant win by 26.1 metres in a rating 58 to 64 rating event. It was a confident drive by trainer-driver Conor Crook to go forward from outside of the front row and dictate the race outside the leader.
Troy McDonald – moved into fifth on the state’s drivers title for the extended season after a driving double on Sunday night, which took his season total to 50. He had to wait until the final two races for his double to score on the Ben Yole-trained duo Heza Rummage and My Ultimate Romeo.
Christian Jaz – won his fourth race of the season when winning a rating 50 to 59 event by 9.4 metres after enjoying a soft run three back on the marker pegs, before pushing into the clear at the 600 metres.
Believe In Forever – was able to record his third win of the season at the five-year-old geldings first start for trainer Geoff Smith and was well found in betting, backed in from $51 to get into as much as $8.00 before starting at $13.
Tasbred winners– two $10,000 Tasbred bonuses went off in the first two races after the wins of Laurens Runner who led all the way to win on debut, and the win of Iden Gorgeous who broke her maiden at start 25 courtesy of a drive of initiative in the middle stages by Matthew Howlett.
Multiple Winners
Launceston – Sunday evening
Conor Crook – driving double; Christian Jaz and Lord Stark,
Ben Yole – training treble; Somedan, Heza Rummage and My Ultimate Romeo,
Troy McDonald – driving double; Heza Rummage and My Ultimate Romeo.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Lip Reader 55.67s, Lord Stark 55.69s, The Shallows 55.88s, Ignatius 55.97s and Taurusi 56.04s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston – Sunday evening
Hit’s: Somedan $3.50 into $2.70, Believe In Forever $51 into $13 and My Ultimate Romeo $6.50 into $6.00.
Defied The Drift: Laurens Runner $4.80 out to $6.00, Iden Gorgeous $8.00 out to $10, Christian Jaz $6.00 out to $7.00, Lord Stark $13 out to $19, The Shallows $6.00 out to $6.50 and Heza Rummage $21 out to $26.
Missed: Jimmy Mischief $8.50 into $4.60, Micton Aroha $15 into $7.50, Mia From Memphis $4.20 into $3.60, Kiavino Stride $7.50 into $6.50 and Tarleton Riley $12 into $8.50.
Trial File
Launceston – Sunday afternoon
Two trials were held before Sunday’s meeting.
The first trial was for the two-year-olds where Franko Joe did everything right to re-qualify.
Driven in the trial by Rohan Hillier, the pacer was restrained to settle three back along the marker pegs before working one off at the 600 metres to win the trial under a firm hold over Carols Judge by a short half-head in a mile rate of 2m 5.0s.
The other trials saw three horses go around which was won by Rowley who sat behind the leader before beating his rivals for speed in the home straight to score by 4.6 metres in 2m 0.7s.
Hobart – Monday evening
Four trials were held on Monday where two-year-old Blissfull Hall filly Nova Baxter scored a 12.8-metre win in 1m 59.0s.
Trainer-driver Paul Ashwood worked forward on the filly in the middle stages to find the lead at the 850 metres and proved too good late to score by 12.8 metres, with big margins between the six runners.
The trial was run in quarters of 28.8s, 31.1s, 28.3s and 30.9s.
Other winners included; Robs Legacy 2m 5.4s, Graphics 2m 6.4s, 2m 2.1s.
Devonport – Monday evening
The three trials staged were all won by the leader in the way of Krafty Boy (NTT), Triple Aitch Fella (2m 13.0s) and Goggo Gee Gee (2m 9.8s).
You can view the weekend’s replays by clicking here.
Week Ahead
Devonport is the venue for harness racing in Tasmania on Friday night with a seven-race card.
Northdown trainer Geoff Smith has been enjoying a great run in recent weeks and that may continue with a number of runners from his stable contesting events across the card including; Im Quite American and Midair Meltdown in race two, Chris Be Quick, Aitutaki and Devil Of Tyne in race three, Rollon Jack and Laid Back Kenny in the fourth event.
The meeting will be televised on Sky Racing 2 from 18:19.
Sunday in Hobart the states best-bred two-year-olds are on show ahead of the $50,000 Finals in two weeks.
Two heats of the Evicus will be conducted, with first starter Nova Baxter creating plenty of interest in the opening heat after a slashing trial win. Rivals include Living On Prare, Laurens Runner and Stepping Stones.
Heat two sees Sweepstakes winner Melnrowley drawing well in barrier three.
A $12,000 Prelude of the Dandy Patch will be held and Sweepstakes winner Rocknovertime looks the one to beat despite drawing outside of the front row but Lancelot who ran a brave second to the pacer in that event, after burning early, has drawn barrier four.
Without a doubt, the most intriguing race is the final onE of the night for the three-year-olds with many horses at different levels. Some are resuming from a break while others will be trying to recapture some better form.
The Hobart card is listed for Sky Racing 1 coverage from 17:52.
Only one Tasmanian pacer will be doing battle over the next few days at metropolitan venues;
Melton – Saturday night
Race 1 Horse 8 Blingittothemax.