Five interstate-trained horses will compete in the $40,000 Hivotech Tasmania Cup at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart on New Year’s Day.
Included in the full field of 12 plus one emergency (last year there were 12 acceptors and 10 starters) is the defending champion Our Chain Of Command, trained by Victorian Dean Braun.
Victoria’s leading trainer for the last four years, Glenn Douglas, will have two runners in the cup field – including Heza Trick, widely acknowledged as one of the rising stars of Victorian harness racing.
The best local chances are likely to be Our Sir Jeckyl and Dance Of The Diety.
The $20,000 SEW Eurodrive George Johnson for mares has attracted Australia’s best mare, Make Mine Cullen, also trained by Glenn Douglas. Former New Zealand pacer Talaspring will also compete. She is a high-class mare that can win the race with the right run.
The 2012 George Johnson will feature a field of 11 (five from interstate), compared to seven in 2011.
Tasracing Acting CEO Dr Eliot Forbes said he was pleased that the Hobart New Year’s Day meeting would feature 10 races, all with quality fields.
“The harness code should be pleased with the quality of horses the state has been able to attract for Sunday’s meeting at Tattersall’s Park,” he said.
“Of course, the locally-trained horses are not without a chance in the meeting’s two major races.”
Dr Forbes said Tasracing had put in place strategies to generate interest from interstate harness participants which had obviously been successful.
“The interstate support the events have generated should also translate into strong wagering support, which in turn means increased returns for industry,” he said.