It was a bumper 10-race card in Launceston last Sunday where Rohan Hillier dominated the meeting with a training treble and reinsman Conor Crook who also recorded a treble in the sulky.
This week we have the last tier-two race meeting in the state until 9 October with a seven-race card in Launceston on Friday night where four heats of the BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series take centre stage.
Then on Sunday, we have an eight-race card scheduled in Hobart, where the opening race, the $12,000 Blue Bonnet, is the feature race of the night.
The Stars
Ryley Major – is the best horse racing in Tasmania at present and we saw that on Sunday with a brilliant win in the Discretionary Handicap where he scored a narrow victory in the 2200-metre event off a 30-metre handicap.
David Hayes – Recently took over the reins as the head trainer for prominent owner-breeder Mick Maxfield, and they teamed up for their first success with American Mac who was having his third run back from a long break due to injury.
Rohan Hillier – while Ryley Major was his prolific winner on Sunday, the Beauty Point-based trainer also had winners on the card with Lip Reader and Giftofjoy, both of which have been ultra-consistent this season.
Conor Crook – a driving treble saw the former New South Welshman notch up his 50th win of the season. His longest price winner was the Steve Lukac-trained Jackson Neptune who scored at odds of $26. Crook is one of 12 drivers competing in Friday’s BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series.
Charlie Castles – also warmed up for Friday night’s BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series with a well-rated front running drive to win the last race with Estelle.
Multiple Winners
Launceston – Sunday evening
Rohan Hillier – training treble; Giftofjoy, Ryley Major and Lip Reader.
Rohan Hillier – driving double; Ryley Major and Lip Reader.
Conor Crook – driving treble; Jackson Neptune, Giftofjoy and Weerrook Harry.
Ben Yole – training double; Border Cross and Weerrook Harry.
Troy McDonald – Border Cross and My Girl Pearl.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Ryley Major 57.16s, Illegal Immigrant 57.24s, Resurgent Rebel 57.65s, Lip Reader 57.69s and Royal Reactor 57.75s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston – Sunday evening
Hit’s: Ryley Major $1.90 into $1.65, Lip Reader $2.25 into $1.90, My Girl Pearl $4.00 into $2.70 and American Mac $3.90 into $2.45.
Defied The Drift: Jackson Neptune $19 out to $26, Border Cross $6.00 out to $8.00, Giftofjoy $2.50 out to $3.20, Weerrook Harry $8.50 out to $13 and Estelle $1.85 out to $2.05.
Missed: Baccarat $4.00 into $3.00, Arakbell $4.20 into $3.50, Always A Stride $12 into $7.50, Live For Peace $10 into $8.00, Prosecution Witness $6.50 into $4.60, Jaccka Len $9.00 into $7.50, The Lemondrop Kid $16 into $11, Oneofthelads $13 into $9.00, Black Ops $9.50 into $8.00, Bettonblack $4.80 into $3.90, My Ultimate Major $13 into $8.50, Yellow Taxi $3.60 into $3.00 and Victoria Pass $21 into $8.00.
Trial File
No trials were held last weekend in the state.
Trial Replays
You can view most trials since the resumption from the COVID-19 break by clicking here.
FORMPLUS Blackbook
I have had a big clean out of my FORMPLUS Black Book account on tasracing.com.au this week, but I have added Kivik to the list. This pacer still hasn’t got out from running sixth in Launceston on Sunday night. Driver Ben Parker didn’t have a lot of options from a second-row draw to settle back at the tail of the field after a solidly run first lap for a 50 to 54 rated event in strong wind conditions as was the case for many races in Launceston on Sunday. Parker elected to drive the pacer for luck through the pack over the final lap, and unfortunately luck wasn’t on his side finishing hard up on the back of the winner late. We all know the gelded son of Courage Under Fire has the ability, we saw that when he led all the way to win on debut before making an early error at his second start. We don’t have long to wait for the pacer to go around next; he is in the opening race in Launceston on Sunday night.
Week Ahead
Four heats of the BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series make up the seven-race card in Launceston on Friday night.
Drivers selected to compete in the series are; Samantha Gangell, Charlie Castles, Sam Clotworthy, Conor Crook, Lachlan Dakin, Taylor Ford, Andrew Freeman, Georgia Hayward, Malcolm Jones, Troy McDonald, Wade Rattray and Hannah Van Dongen.
It looks a very even contest, but Lip Reader does look a standout in heat three (Race 5) for Lachlan Dakin despite drawing barrier seven.
Only nine horses will contest that heat, the driver that misses out on a drive automatically secures eight points.
The points a driver secures for a win is 19 points, 14 for a second, 11 for third, nine for fourth and then by a reduction of one point for each placegetter.
A horse that fails to complete the course secures no points.
The Launceston card will be shown on TasracingTV and Sky Racing 2 commencing at 17:46.
Sunday in Hobart sees the running of the Blue Bonnet for the two-year-old fillies, the first feature race since the COVID-19 shutdown in the state.
The states leading trainer Ben Yole is represented by Written in Silk who flew home for second last time out, he takes on an even field which includes last-start winners Stepping Stones, who defeated the older horses, and Melnrowley who resumes from a break.
It is unusual to have a feature race as the opening event, but that is the case on Sunday with the race set down for 18:07 on TasracingTV and Sky Racing 1.
Some Tasmanian pacers doing battle over the next few days at metropolitan venues include;
Melton – Friday afteernoon
Race 2 Horse 1 Atego Titan,
Race 5 Horse 7 Micton Mouse.
Bendigo (Metro meeting) – Saturday night
Race 5 Horse 4 Streitkid.
Menangle – Saturday night
Race 1 Horse 2 Zhukov Leis,
Race 2 Horse 9 No Apachemee,
Race 4 Horse 8 Zhukov Leis.