Nine races were hosted by the Launceston Pacing Club last Friday evening at the UBET Racing Centre. A prelude of the Globe Derby Stakes and two heats of the Evicus Stakes were held. The very fast Jerrys Jet made it ten wins and two seconds from twelve lifetime starts, when he scored an easy win in the Globe Derby Prelude. He defeated his stablemate Four Ex Dan by 2 1/2metres with Blackjack Hanover a long way back in third place.
Jerrys Jet covered the 2,200 meters at a 2:00.8 rate. The last half mile in 57.4 being eased down by his trainer, driver Rohan Hillier. The Globe Derby Stakes and the Evicus Stakes are restricted to Tasmanian bred pacers. It will be interesting to see how many accept to take on Jerrys Jet in the $30,000 final next Sunday.
The Evicus Stakes for three year old fillies has turned out to be an open affair after the heats on Friday night. Ark Breeze, a filly by Stonebridge Regal from the good producer Ark Drifter, won the first heat. Ark Breeze had four previous lifetime starts for two placings, but after being just off the pace all the way she ran down the pacemaker Grace Campbell to score by two meters in a slow mile rate of 2:06.4 for the 2,200 meters, the last half in 58.9. Ark Breeze is owned by her breeder Shane Hawes and was driven by trainer Christian Salter
Barooga Minnie made it four wins in a row when she scored in the second heat. Beginning fast from her wide barrier, she led all the way and although getting a bit tired at the finish held on to defeat Sheas Delight by 1 1/2 meters. Barooga Minnie covered the 2,200 meters at a 2:03.3 rate with the last half in 59.4. Her overall time was a lot faster than the first heat. Second placegetter Sheas Delight was only having her second start after a win in Hobart. She finished very fast and looks a big show in the final next Sunday night.
The Island Block & Paving Two Year Old was won by the Christian Salter trained and driven Rocknroll Dancer. The colt made use of his barrier one draw to lead all the way and score narrowly from the Kent Rattray trained pair of Karalta Stardust and Karalta Boomer. Rocknroll Dancer is a bay colt by Rocknroll Hanover from Ball Dancer, and covered the 1680 meter distance at a 2:03.4 rate. His only other race start was a second in Hobart on 1 June.
Fundamentalist followed up his last start dead heat at the UBET Racing Centre, with a win in the Jubilee Bakery Stakes. Fundamentalist finished fast in the straight to defeat Cardinal Finn by a meter covering the 2,200 meters at a 2:02.4 rate.
Second placegetter Cardinal Finn is a six year old having his first race start, and although forced to race outside the pacemaker all the way battled on well in the straight to go down narrowly. Fundamentalist is a bay colt by Shadow Play from the good producer She’s An Atom, dam also of Safe Prospect (six wins) and Hesa Propect (six wins). The winner is raced by Sonia Dornauf and Doug McKillop, trained by Bill Dornauf and was well driven by Duncan Dornauf.
By Peter Cooley