The Tasmanian Pacing Club held a very successful meeting at UBET Park, Elwick last Sunday evening, with the feature being the running of the $30,000 Tasmanian Derby.
The classy Ryley Major led all the way in the Tasmanian Derby, making it five wins from as many starts this season. Taking full advantage of his inside barrier draw, he easily defeated El Major by four metres with Code Black, who raced outside the winner all the way, a close up third. Ryler Major covered the 2579 metres journey at a 2:02.2 rate, well outside Lombo Pocket Watch’s record of 1:59.8. He is raced, trained and was driven by Rohan Hillier of Beauty Point.
Ryley Major is the first foal of the dual Tasmanian Horse of the Year winner in Shez Rylemak. This mare won the title in 2008 as a two year old (the third to do so) and again the following year. Shez Rylemak won the Tasmanian Oaks in 2008, and has now become only the second Tasmanian Oaks winner to produce a Tasmanian Derby winner The previous was the 1955 Oaks winner Dainty Design, who produced two Tasmanian Derby winners in Heather Bay and Joseph Scott.
Ryley Major will now contest the Tasmanian Yearling Sales Classic next week in Launceston before a short letup. He will then be prepared for the Globe Derby Stakes in Mowbray later on in the season.
Resurgent Spirit was rewarded for his consistency when he scored an easy win in the $10,000 Metropolitan Cup. Taken to the lead with two laps to go, he never looked in serious danger of defeat and won by seven metres from Mr Lennox with Victorian visitor Crusader Acey in third place.
Resurgent Spirit has been close up in all the major races this season, and has now recorded five wins and five placings from 12 starts this racing year. He is raced by his trainer Roger Whitmore of New Norfolk and was well driven by James Austin. James father Ken drove Pedestal Boy to win the Metropolitan Cup in 2001.
The ever consistent Karalta Dazzler took out the Roberts Light Harness Cup , getting up to defeat the outsider Rusty Red Comet by half a head, with another outsider in Odin’s Call Girl in third place. Karalta Dazzler had finished second at his previous two starts. He has now won 10 races and 33 placings from 83 lifetime starts. The five year old gelding is trained by Kent Rattray for his parents Wayne and Gaye Rattray, and was driven by John Walters, who is having a very good season.
By Peter Cooley