Favourites dominated the first two heats of the Sweepstakes series that got underway in Hobart on Sunday night, with Moveslikealady scoring in the fillies division, while Hazewillrev (pictured) took out the colts and geldings heat.
Magician had his first look at the Menangle track ahead of Saturday week’s $2.1 million TAB Eureka when finishing third in a trial on Wednesday morning.
Driven by James Rattray, Magician finished third in an eight-horse field, 7.5m behind the winner Taipo in 1m 53.5s for the mile journey.
This week there are further heats of the Sweepstakes programmed for the Hobart meeting on Friday night, and the $20,000 Golden Mile is the feature race on Sunday evening’s Launceston card.
The Stars
Olivia Weidenbach – a former Victorian who now calls Tasmania home, trained her first winner in Launceston on Friday night when Reckon Im Smart won the last race on the program. The win came at her seventh start as a trainer.
Karalta Artemis – overcame a second-row draw to score a 15.3m win in a rating 53 to 57 event in Hobart on Sunday night and did so in a quick 1m56.8s for the mile trip. Trainer Kent Rattray was obviously pleased enough with the effort he has put the pacer in against the open-class on Sunday nights Golden Mile.
Hazewillrev – is now undefeated after three starts, the most recent in the first heat of the Colts and Geldings heat of the Sweepstakes on Sunday. Trainer-driver Craig Hayes drove a confident race early to find the lead and proved to tough late in 1m 57.5s.
Moveslikealady – won the fillies heat of the Sweepstakes coming from last of the four-horse field at the 825m to go on and win by 11.2m. The win was the first leg of a training and driving double for Rohan Hillier, who had success later in the night with Big Boy Mal.
Feats of the meet
Launceston, 18 August
Todd Rattray – three driving wins, two training wins.
Nathan Ford – two driving wins,
Ben Yole – two training wins.
Hobart, 20 August
Gareth Rattray – three driving wins,
Ben Yole – three training wins,
Rohan Hillier – two training and driving wins,
Dylan Ford – two driving wins,
Kent Rattray – two training wins.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Launceston, 18 August
The Dude 58.09s, Gordievsky Leis 58.11s, The Atherlete 58.20s, Guenevers Madonna 58.24s and Looby Lombo 58.30s.
Hobart, 20 August
Stepping Stones 56.43s, We Salute You 56.63s, Young Rooster 56.71s, Miki Sanz 56.84 and Arden Roanoke 56.92s.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston, 18 August
Hit’s: Kolovos $5.00 into $4.60, Looby Lombo $1.85 into $1.45, Dapper $11 into $9.00 and Reckon Im Smart $2.90 into $2.00.
Defied The Drift: Bold Centurian $4.40 out to $7.00, The Atherlete $8.50 out to $15, Soulwriter $5.00 out to $6.50 and Gordivesky Leis $8.00 out to $8.50.
Missed: Somedan $2.70 into $2.10, Not Yet Mum $3.00 into $2.00, Fury Dan $9.00 into $5.50 and His Dream Lives On $13 into $9.00.
Hobart, 20August
Hit’s: Hazewillrev $1.95 into $1.60 and Big Boy Mal $2.60 into $2.30.
Defied The Drift: Moveslikealady $1.16 out to $1.20, Karalta Artemis $1.65 out to $2.10, Jimi Sanz $3.60 out to $3.80, Equity Stride $5.50 out to $7.00, Slingshot $5.50 out to $6.00, Rockandahardplace $2.60 out to $3.30 and Young Rooster $7.00 out to $11.
Missed: Velocity Stride $5.50 into $3.40, Lorimer Lady $14 into $8.00, Whey Better $13 into $5.50, Kenya $3.30 into $2.10, Firecracker Nola $13 into $8.50, Hickstead $2.60 into $1.95, We Salute You $5.00 into $4.20 and Arden Roanoke $5.00 into $4.20.
Week Ahead
Friday: Harness racing in Hobart from apx. 17:14, with two heats of the Two Year Old Sweepstakes scheduled.
Saturday: Trials at Carrick Park from 9:00 am.
Tasmanian-trained, owned or bred horses at metropolitan meetings interstate include
Melton:
R1 – Forgot The Wallet,
R6 – Max Delight,
R8 – Believe In Forever.
Menangle:
R1 – Boom,
R2 – Kadar,
R7 – Izaha.
Sunday: Eight races in Launceston from 17:36, featuring the Golden Mile, where three-year-old Karalta Artemis takes on the open-class pacers for the first time in his career.
Tuesday: Ignatius lines up in the seventh race at Yonkers in New York.