Harness Racing returns to Devonport on Monday evening with the local club staging an eleven-event programme. The racing will feature the four-year-old Series for Tasmanian bred males and females. A prelude of the Raider Stakes for stallions and geldings, and two heats of the Granny Smith Stakes for four-year-old mares. The finals of both races will be held at Devonport on Sunday the 24th of April.
The Maxwell Drilling Raider Stakes Prelude has drawn a classy field headed by the very promising Jerry’s Jet. This pacer blotted his copybook when he failed to leave the mark in a standing start heat of the Easter Cup, trailing the field. It was his first start from a stand. However, back to a mobile he looks to be the testing material in this race. Previously at his seventeen life-time starts, he had recorded fourteen wins and two seconds. Jerry’s Jet has most to fear from his stablemate Four Ex Dan, winner of seven races and six placings from his thirteen lifetime starts. Jerry’s Jet will be driven by his trainer Rohan Hillier, whilst Four Ex Dan by his trainer Troy Hillier, a brother of Rohan. Two other well-performed pacers in the race are Blackjack Hanover, winner of three of his last five starts, and the polemarker Fioki.
The first heat of the Granny Smith Stakes looks a race between the Todd Rattray pair Freyde, winner of three from nineteen starts, and Kyleasha five from fifteen. Other chances look to be Ark Breeze, who is resuming from a long spell and Mi Makarova.
The second heat of the Granny Smith is a much stronger field. Sheas Delight was a recent eighteen metre winner in Hobart, when she led all the way and from the pole could do it again. Barooga Minnie was the standout filly last season, and won well on this track on March 6. She has raced thirteen times for six wins and five placings. Fuscienne, a half sister to Beautide, has won her last two starts impressively, having recorded five wins from 22 lifetime starts. The other mare with a big show is Mavis Merle, a winner of four races. She was a fast finishing third at her last start in Hobart.
Peter Cooley