Tasracing

Carrick trainer Chris Viney will be hoping he can end the lean run of local trainers at the popular country venue, when El Jays Blu lines up in the Bramich Bulldozing Trainers Encouragement Pace Heat Two today at the first meeting of the season for the Carrick Park Pacing Club.

In the last 11 meetings held on the track only one horse stabled in the town has won, that win was recorded by Regal Idea 1,382 days ago.

El Jays Blu, a gelded son of Betterthancheddar has been good in his two runs back this preparation which includes a second placing in Hobart on 9 November before running third in Launceston on 17 November where Viney was pleased with the performance of the pacer.

“He did a lot of work out three-wide early before racing outside the leader in the quickest lead time of the night,” said Viney.

“I was happy with his run being second-up,” added the trainer.

El Jays Blu has shown ability in his 11-start career which has seen him register one win and three placings but as a two-year-old Viney had his doubts if the pacer would make it to the track.

“As a two-year-old, I didn’t think he would make it as a racehorse but he has got stronger with age,” explained the Carrick based trainer.

El Jays Blu arrived in Viney’s stable as a yearling when purchased by his wife Janice.

“She purchased him without my knowledge,” Viney laughed. 

El Jays Blu has drawn barrier four in Sunday’s race and will start from barrier three if the emergency fails to gain a start.

“I don’t know a lot about the gate speed of a few inside him but he has good gate speed and if he puts his right foot forward, he should settle handy,” Viney said

“I always like winning at Carrick, you would think it would be an advantage training on the track but I reckon I have only trained two winners there,” added the trainer who will hand over the driving responsibilities again to Todd Rattray.

The main danger for El Jays Blu is Moonlite Bay who has won three-races from 11 starts and resumes from a short let-up after finishing fourth to Our Percius in Hobart on 13 October.

It will a big moment for 16-year-old Malcom Jones in the race who will have his first race drive on Penstock Boy who is trained by his father Mark.

Malcom adds to a long list of drivers that have made the transition from the mini trot program into the industry.

The first heat of the Bramich Bulldozing Trainers Encouragement Pace is race three where the Chester Bullock trained Cardinal Ringo looks extremely well placed despite his outside of the second-row draw.

Cardinal Ringo, a gelded son of Four Starzz Shark recorded the quickest last half of the meeting in Launceston on 17 November in 55.89s and should appreciate a massive drop-in class.

The first five placegetters in each heat qualify for the final at the clubs next meeting on 29 December where the winning trainer will win a Missile Sulky.

Today’s Carrick card commences at 16:06 with races one to four to be televised on Sky Racing 2 with the last four races on Sky Racing 2, all races are on Sky Racing Active and TasracingTV.

In other Tasmanian harness racing news, the King Island Racing Club season got underway yesterday in eventful fashion.

Coco Spirit driven by Tim Yole was first past the post in the Elders Rural Services Pace by a short-half head but lost the race in the steward’s room when the driver of the second place getter, Elegantly Spoken, Adrian Collins lodged a protest against the original winner for interference over the concluding stages of the race.

Timeless Jasper led all the way to win the second harness race of the day for trainer-driver Paul Williams with the Village Jasper gelding scoring by 30-metres over the stablemate and short price favourite Yellow Taxi.

Watch Cardinal Ringo chase home Awayandrideyourself in Launceston on 17 November: