Stowport trainer/driver Craig Hayes has developed a good affinity with the Geoff Smith trained Truly Blissfull and the pair combined for their best win with a track record 1:55.2 mile rate in the $10,000 Launceston Mile. After winning the $10,000 Burnie Cup in 2013 and a Launceston Free For All in the same year, the duo rolled to the early lead on Sunday night and adopted ‘catch me if you can’t tactics to just hold on to defeat Motu Crusader and Riverboat Jasper.
Hayes completed a feature race double when the ultra consistent Mickwillrev won the $10,000 Riverside Cricket Club Four Year Old Classic. The 4YO gelding is trained by Hayes and came from well back with a solid sprint to defeat Vande Velde and Chopstix Boris. In winning, Mickwillrev took his career record to 21 – 13 – 4 – 3 – $68,217.
While most of the Rattray clan was at Menangle to witness the astonishing performance by Beautide, Gareth stayed at home and drove three of the eight winners at Launceston on Sunday night. He started with Springfield Tattoo when they led throughout to win the low points division of the C1/C2 race. The 5YO gelding was acquired by Roger Brown in May 2014 and the victory was his first in 14 starts for the Bagdad trainer but it came as no surprise after two second placings at his previous three starts.
Smart 3YO Mister Lennox was the middle pin of the treble for Rattray. Again, Rattray assumed the early lead and ambled through the first half in 35.0 seconds before closing out in 57.2 seconds, rating 2:03.6 for 2200 metres. Mister Lennox has won four of his five starts this preparation and is shaping as one of Tasmania’s leading contenders in the $30,000 Office National Tasmanian Derby at Hobart on Sunday 22 March.
Rattray completed the night winning the last with the Paul Ashwood trained Melolyn. The 5YO Tasbred did it tough with a midrace move to the death seat before digging deep to kick back and defeat another smart Tasbred 5YO, Clamorous, in a quick mile rate of 1:59.7 for 2200 metres. Melolyn’s career record is 33 –12 – 6 – 8 – $71,918.
Mei Gei broke through for her first win from 19 starts leading throughout to win a heat of the Allen Williams series and qualify for the $10,000 final at Devonport on Sunday night. The 3YO Peter Dornauf trained filly was only one metre behind Fawzia in the $10,000 Office National Pace (3YO fillies) at Hobart on 18 January and she appreciated the lower class on Sunday night and the front running tactics adopted by driver Nathan Ford.