The Group 3 Triple M Hobart Pacing Cup kicks off Hobart Cup weekend at Ladbrokes Park Elwick in Hobart on Friday night.
First run as a $40,000 standing start event in 1994 the race has had many changes and this year will be run as a mobile start event for the second time over 2090 metres, the shortest distance in the race’s history.
The $25,000 feature is set down to commence at 19:04 where Ryley Major will start one of the shortest price favourites in the history of the race.
The Rohan Hillier-trained pacer has drawn barrier three and is one of, if not the quickest horse off the mobile if his trainer-driver desires to use his gate speed early.
If he is to lead, then expect to see a great battle between Dasher Houli and Izaha in the early stages to try and get the position on the back of the favourite.
1. Dasher Houli
Trainer: Mark Reggett
Driver: Mark Yole
Won a heat of the Tassie Golden Apple when first-up from a spell five-starts ago. The Mark Reggett-trained gelding draws to get a great trip, either behind the leader or worst-case scenario three back the pegs. Here two starts ago he settled behind the leader, Izaha, and was able to make ground along the sprint lane to finish third to Ryley Major, the winner of eight races then went to the Devonport Pacing Cup on Sunday where he battled on well late to finish fifth. Draws to get a good run on the pegs and must be included in all exotics.
2. Izaha
Trainer-driver: Todd Rattray
The five-year-old entire has won two of his five starts back this campaign, including the N.W.T.L.H.A Cup in Devonport in late November. Two starts ago in Hobart, he worked forward to lead, with Ryley Major being able to sit outside him for the final 1300 metres of the race and proved to be too tough. Last start he clashed with Ryley Major again, this time Izaha flew out to lead and again Ryley Major was forced to race outside him and defeat him. He is a genuine top-three chance.
3. Ryley Major
Trainer-driver: Rohan Hillier
Will start the shortest price favourite in the history of the race, and deservedly so. The gelded son of Art Major has won 25 of his 35 starts, $205,028 in prize money. His glowing resume includes the 2015 Group 3 Dandy Patch Final, 2016 Group 3 Tasmanian Derby and Globe Derby Stakes and the 2019 Group 3 Tassie Golden Apple. The Rohan Hillier-trained and driven pacer has won his last nine starts on end and is clearly the horse to beat here.
4. Somedan
Trainer: Ben Yole
Driver: Troy McDonald (C)
Has recorded three wins and seven placings in 17 starts on the Hobart track, the gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere finished seventh in the Devonport Pacing Cup last start after enjoying a soft run on the pegs. He finished 15 metres behind Ryley Major here in Hobart the start prior and it is hard to see him turn the tables on the favourite here drawn outside the star pacer.
5. Blackbird Power
Trainer: Gavin Kelly
Driver: Adrian Collins
Is not having a lot of luck in recent starts, he raced three and four wide over the final lap last time, the start prior in Devonport he raced three-wide the trip over the 2645 metres. The seven-year-old gelding has won 21 races including six wins last season, his most recent win was in Hobart back in May.
6. Murry
Trainer: Gavin Kelly
Driver: Ben Woodsford (C)
Is the second of the Gavin Kelly trained pacers in the race. The gelded son of Jeremes Jet has won 12 of his 51 starts with his most recent win in Devonport in late November. Murry does not have the best record on the Hobart track, he is yet to be placed in eight starts at the venue.
7. Call Me Hector
Trainer-driver: Matthew Cooper (C)
Holds the mantle of Tasmania’s fastest pacer when he scored here in 1m 54.3s on 18 September over the mile trip. The Matthew Cooper-trained and driven pacer returns to the state after a four-start Victorian campaign where he was able to score in a $20,000 race at Melton two starts ago. The five-year-old gelding has won 17 races with seven of those wins coming on the Hobart track. The wide draw makes it hard here, but he is likely to race on speed and is a top-three prospect.
– – – Second Row – – –
8. Smart Little Shard
Trainer: John Nicholson
Driver: Jack Laugher
Is the only interstate contender in this year’s race. The John “Bulldog” Nicholson trained entire contested the Devonport Pacing Cup on Sunday where he galloped out in the standing start event. The pacer never got a lot of clear racing room late when finishing fourth. From the draw, he should be considered for those playing the exotics.
9. Star Chamber
Trainer: Bianca Heenan
Driver: Zeke Slater
The Bianca Heenan-trained 11-year-old won this race back in 2015 off a 20-metre handicap. The oldest horse in this year’s race has won 23 races with 15 of those wins coming on the track, his most recent victory was here on Australian Drivers Championship night on 9 November where he scored by 9.4 metres. The winner of $249,728 in prizemoney comes into the race off a last-start second to Ryley Major in the Toreace Flying Mile where he enjoyed a soft run on the pegs.
10. No Spring Secrets
Trainer: Steve Lukac
Driver: Conor Crook (C)
The eight-year-old gelding has been out of the winner’s circle since March 2018, which is hard to believe when you go back through his form and see some of the races he has been placed in. Five starts ago he was third behind Ryley Major and Call Me Hector in Hobart before finishing second to Yatsenyuk Leis in Launceston after racing wide over the final lap. His last three starts have all been in free for all races where he has finished fourth, seventh, and fifth. He will need the speed on here to be a chance from the draw as his main dangers are going to settle close to the speed.
Duncan Dornauf’s Top Four selections;
3. RYLEY MAJOR, 2. IZAHA, 1. DASHER HOULI, 7. CALL ME HECTOR