The resumption of Tasmanian racing is getting closer, and that’s been seen on the trial tracks, with 17 trials held across two sessions last week.
Saturday, we see 12 trials set down for decision in Launceston before Hobart host nine trials on Monday night while the first set of harness trials will be held on the states north-west coast in Devonport with eight trials to be decided.
The week ended on a sad note with the passing of race caller and Tasmanian sports media identity Shane Yates on Thursday afternoon after losing his battle with cancer aged 60.
He is survived by his mother Zita, brothers Gary and Dean and daughters Layla and Montanna.
The Stars
Youngsters start careers in the sulky
Sam Clotworthy and Bronte Miller both had their first trial drives last weekend.
Kiwi-born Clotworthy hails from a thoroughbred background and recently arrived in the state to take up a position with the Ben Yole stable.
Miller is also an employee of the Yole stable and is the daughter of Mt Direction trainer Clayton Miller.
Open class pacer returns
Ten-year-old gelding Dapper Dana returned to the track with a comfortable trial victory in Launceston on Saturday. The Bettors Delight gelding has won 11 of his 37 starts to date but hadn’t been in public since March 2018. Dapper Dana is trained by Rohan Hillier and was driven in the trial by his brother Troy.
Trial File
Launceston – Saturday morning
Trial 1 – Rockandahardplace was restrained in the early stages to settle three-back along the marker pegs before being too quick for his rivals in the home straight. The Kent Rattray- trained, John Walters driven pacer scored by 7.4 metres over Big Mischief who had every chance in front.
Time: 2m 53.9s, Mile Rate: 2m 7.2s, Last Half: 60.1s.
Trial 2 – Chris Be Quick was exactly that recording the quickest mile rate of the day. The Geoff Smith-trained pacer enjoyed a lovely run behind the leader Lightning Scooter (3rd) who set the speed before peeking on his run late. Mi Ju Dan settled well back in the field and made up good ground in a 28.1s final quarter to finish in second placing.
Time: 2m 2.8s, Mile Rate: 1m 57.6s, Last Half: 58.4s.
Trial 3 – was for the two-year-olds with a four-year-old maiden also engaged. Stormy Sanz jumped straight to the lead and was able to hold off a late challenge by Lily Rocks who enjoyed a lovely run on his back with 1.1 metres between them at the finish.
Time: 2m 9.2s, Mile Rate: 2m 3.8s, Last Half: 59.6s.
Trial 4 – saw Dapper Dana step out for the first time in public since running fifth to Harjeet in a heat of the Easter Cup in 2018 and the gelded son of Bettors Delight was successful in the rating 59 to 90 trial scoring by two metres with Troy Hillier in the sulky for his brother Rohan. Jeans Mattjesty was doing his best work late after settling well back in the field in a solid last half mile.
Time: 2m 44.3s, Mile Rate: 2m 0.2s, Last Half: 57.7s.
Trial 5 – only saw three runners compete, Artiflash driven by Sam Clotworthy led and was too quick for his rivals in what was only a dash home. Lord Stark who sat on the back of the leader finished second, 2.5 metres form the winner with a further 4.4 metres back to Frostyflyer.
Time: 2m 47.0s, Mile Rate: 2m 2.2s, Last Half: 57.0s.
Trial 6 – Hear the Call was able to lead easily and then get away with some slow early sectionals over the sprint trip. The Ben Yole-trained pacer looked to have a bit left in the tank over the concluding stages when defeating Caribbean Holme who had the soft run on the leaders back.
Time: 2m 9.8s, Mile Rate: 2m 4.3s, Last Half: 59.5s.
Trial 7 – Driver Mark Yole was keen to find the lead early on Indiana Dreaming who drew the extreme outside of the four-horse field. After the early burn, Yole was able to get away with soft second and third quarters before dashing home in 27.8s. Laid Back Kenny was second while Tarleton Riley was doing his best work late from well back in the field for third.
Time: 2m 7.8s, Mile Rate: 2m 2.4s, Last Half: 59.1s.
The replays from the trial session are available by clicking here.
Hobart – Monday twilight
Trial 1 – Resurgent Rebel began well to lead in the rating 35 to 50 trial and was too strong for Spanski over the concluding stages. Those two cleared right out from their three remaining rivals with 19.7 metres between second and third.
Time and Mile Rate: 2m 2.5s, Last Half: 60.1s.
Trial 2 – was a rating 45 to 77 event where Murry slipped under the handicapper’s guard in the ratings to storm home down the outside and score under a very strong hold by his trainer-driver Gavin Kelly. The early leader Fortino was second with Vapar Glenn back in third spot.
Time and Mile Rate: 2m 2.1s, Last Half: 60.3s.
Trial 3 – only saw the three runners go around after two scratching’s including the state’s fastest pacer Call Me Hector. It was the Zeke Slater-trained Blackbird Power proving too strong for his rivals after leading for the final mile of the event, the New Norfolk Cup winner Finn Mac Kee was second with Our Quinn the only other starter finishing third.
Time: 2m 39.2s, Mile Rate: 2m 2.6s, Last Half: 58.9s.
Trial 4 – was like watching track work with drivers happy to sit and let their horses finish on the bit instead of pulling them out and going backwards. Distinctive Del was the victor after working forward to lead from the 1200-metre mark.
Time and Mile Rate: 2m 2.0s, Last Half: 59.5s.
Trial 5 – Streetside Classic became another leader to score with Paul Ashwood in the sulky. Gipsy Treasure who settled in second spot ran the winner down to a half head. Those two were 22.3 metres clear of their remaining rivals.
Time and Mile Rate: 2m 2.2s, Last Half: 58.6s.
Trial 6 – Still Hungover was another horse that was well placed in their trial when she scored an easy win in a rating 40 to 62 event. Driver Ricky Duggan restrained the pacer to settle in third spot but after a lead time of 40.2s and a first half-mile of 69.9s. Duggan allowed the mare to stride home in a 57.1s last half mile, scoring by 27.1 metres. Given the slow early sectionals and the mile rate of 2m 8.7s it is likely the quality mare wouldn’t have needed a wash down after the trial.
Time: 2m 47.2s, Mile Rate: 2m 8.7s, Last Half: 57.1s.
Trial 7 – was for the rating 64 to 70 performers where Stormont Star enjoyed a lovely run behind the leader and second placegetter Resurgent Star, with a head between them at the finish. Those two runners were well clear of their remaining rivals.
Time: 2m 37.7s, Mile Rate: 2m 1.5s, Last Half: 58.8s.
Trial 8 – Big Bang Raj for trainer-driver Taylor Ford was able to use the pole draw to full advantage to lead in the 2090-metre trial after some slow early sectionals the pacer was always going to be hard to rundown. He scored by 1.9 meters over Monarkamac.
Time: 2m 43.7s, Mile Rate: 2m 6.0s, Last Half: 58.6s.
Trial 9 – was a mixed pacing and trotter’s trials for horses rated 48 to 50. The trial was won by Insulting, who was having his first trial. The gelded son of Hes Watching was able to work forward and find the lead in a trial where he did everything right in slow time.
Time: 2m 45.1s, Mile Rate: 2m 7.1s, Last Half: 62.0s.
Trial 10 – only saw three runners go around with the Paul Williams-trained and driven pacer Debt Till We Part recording a half-neck victory after enjoying a soft run behind the leader.
Time: 2m 47.2s, Mile Rate: 2m 8.7s, Last Half: 59.4s.
The replays from the trial session are available by clicking here.
Week Ahead
Without a doubt, the best-bred youngster going around at this week’s trial session is Tommy Hillfigure in Launceston on Saturday.
The Rohan Hillier trained two-year-old is a gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance and is out of Shez Ryleymak, which makes him a half-brother to this seasons Tasmania Cup winner, Ryley Major.
Some Tasmanian pacers doing battle over the next few days include;
Shepparton – Friday night
Race 7 Horse 11 Adelaide Bay.
Menangle – Saturday Night
Race 9 Horse 3 Harjeet and Horse 6 No Apacheemee.