This time next week the preview will be geared towards racing in Hobart on 14 June.
As we prepare for the resumption of racing in Tasmania since it’s forced closure due to COVID-19 restrictions, we take a look back at the past week where 145 individual horses took part in trial sessions across Launceston, Hobart and Devonport. Those venues are also hosting trials again this long weekend.
The Stars
Blingittothemax – was back in the winner’s list at the meeting held in Shepparton on Wednesday night. The seven-year-old gelded son of Art Major scored by 3.4 metres in a mile rate of 1m 57.6s. The David Aiken-trained pacer is owned by prominent Tasmanian harness identity Michael Maxfield and the estate of Lynne Maxfield.
Louisiana Joe- still in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria where former Tasmanian trainer-driver Juanita Breen is enjoying recent success with three-year-old filly Louisiana Joe. The daughter of Roll With Joe has now won two of her three starts, the most recent being in Shepparton last Friday.
Jack Laugher – is another former Tasmanian calling Victoria home and he was in the winner’s circle at Melton on Saturday night. Laugher drove the Richie Caruana-trained Off the Radar to victory in a slick 1m 55.9s.
Trial File
Launceston – Saturday morning
12 trials were staged in strong wind conditions, with two winners breaking 1m 58.0s for their mile rate.
No Spring Secrets recorded 1m 57.1s when scoring in a rating 70 to 93 trial over 1680 metres.
The Steve Lukac-trained pacer was driven to a half neck victory by Conor Crook.
A 70 to 86 rating trial was the final event on the card where Lip Reader led all the way to defeat Jeans Mattjesty by a half head.
Lip Reader bowled along in the lead for trainer-driver Rohan Hillier, breaking 30s for every quarter for the final mile. The mile rate of 1m 57.6s for 2200 metres was one second outside of the track record held by Scooterwillrev that he sat on 22 July 2018.
The remaining trials were won by; Laurens Runner (2m 5.9s), Lancelot (2m 3.4s), Wandary Muscat (2m 4.8s), Oneofthelads (2m 1.7s), Denstown (2m 1.9s), Spot Eight (2m 4.7s), Emjays Black Chip (2m 3.7s), Bring The Flave (2m 4.1s), Lord Stark (2m 2.5s) and Colby Sanz (2m 5.4s)
Hobart – Monday twilight
Brighton trainer Ray Pullen had his team racing well before the suspension of racing in the state and that has continued in recent trials, including on Monday night where he trained and drove three winners.
The quickest of the night was Castor Troy who recorded 1m 58.7s when winning a rating 58 to 62 trial over the mile trip. After settling in third spot, the Aces N Sevens gelding ran on well out wide over the final 350 metres to score by 2.7 metres.
Pullen’s other winners included two-year-old Most Perfect Major (2m 4.1s) who is now undefeated in two trials this campaign and Gipsy Treasure who led all the way to score in 2m 1.9s for the mile trip.
Remaining trials were won by; Iden Gorgeous (2m 5.0s), Watchmylips (2m 3.1s), Capitallee (1m 59.0s), Debt Till We Part (2m 7.1s), Star Chamber (1m 59.0s), Resurgent Storm (2m 6.0s), War Chest (2m 1.8s) and Victoria Pass (2m 1.7s).
Devonport – Monday evening
The first set of trials for any equine code was staged on a heavy track on Monday night after 5mm of rain fell in the region from 9:00 that morning.
Veteran pacer Monarkmac scored in the final trial of the night in a mile rate of 2m 4.3s for the 2297 metre trip. The 11-year-old gelding settled behind the leader before sweeping to the lead at the 500-metre mark to score by eight metres.
Other winners; Cedric Seymour (2m 11.1s), Shadow Macray (2m 8.2s), Mach Charm (2m 5.5s), Canbe Doc (2m 8.8s), Bold Centurian (2m 6.7s), Brian Who (2m 5.5s) and My Celebrity (2m 7.7s).
Trial Replays
There were many handy performances across the 31 trials staged last weekend, and you can view them all by clicking here.
Week Ahead
Launceston host 12 trials Saturday commencing at 10:30 in what looks to be another strong session.
With a public holiday on Monday, there have been some changes to the start times of trials scheduled in Hobart and Devonport.
Hobart will start at 14:30 where rising star Cool Water Paddy is the headline act in trial 10.
The Devonport session will commence at 10:30 with seven trials to be held.
Some Tasmanian pacers doing battle over the next few days include;
Bendigo – Saturday night
Race 5 Horse 4 Streitkid,
Race 8 Horse 3 Bootleg Bert,
Cranbourne – Sunday night
Race 4 Horse 7 Moonlite Bay,
Melton – Tuesday night
Race 4 Horse 7 Really Campbell