It was another big week of harness racing in the island state, kicking off with the meeting in Devonport last Friday which saw the commencement of the 6ty° Youngbloods Challenge and the first heat of the popular Allan Williams Memorial.
The action then turned to the King Island Racing Club’s first meeting of the season on Saturday before rolling on to Carrick Park on Sunday where there were many great performances on the eight-race card.
This week we only have the one meeting, which will be held in Hobart on Sunday night but there is plenty of Tasmanian flavour across Bass Strait and the Tasman Sea.
The Stars
Youngbloods – the young drivers put up a great display in Devonport on Friday night. Andrew Freeman was having his first race drive since June when he scored on Mach Charm in Heat One. Machitelli worked forward to find the lead to win in Heat Two with Taylor Ford in the sulky. Both winners were prepared by Ben Yole who trained four winners on the night.
Izaha – faced a tough ask off a 30-metre handicap in the NWTLHA Cup but the Roll With Joe entire was able to prove his class with a head victory over Blackbird Power. Trainer-driver Todd Rattray was able to enjoy a three-wide cart up over the final 1100 metres of the race. The talented pacer has now won 15 of his 25 starts, with a further six-placings to his credit.
Shady Story – three-year-old gelding proved too good for his older rivals on debut in the first heat of the Allan Williams Memorial. The Craig Van Dongen trained pacer was driven by his daughter Hannah, who was able to lead from the pole draw and was untroubled over the concluding stages to score by 11.9 metres.
Murry – Trainer-driver Gavin Kelly relocated his horses from the Brighton Training Complex to be stabled in the country environment and the horses have certainly appreciated the change, none more so than Murry who was a tough effort out three and four wide over the final circuit to win in Devonport. It was the second win for the gelded son of Jeremes Jet in his past four starts.
Mister Gently – was one of many standout performances at Carrick Park on Sunday. The Craig Hayes trained and driven pacer raced outside the leader to score in heat two of the trainer’s encouragement series. The gelded son of Live Or Die worked in the strong wind conditions to win at his first start since February. The other heat winner, Cardinal Ringo, was ultra-impressive and looks the one to beat in the final at the clubs next meeting on 29 December.
Multiple Winners
Devonport – Friday evening
Ben Yole – training quartet; Mach Charm, Machitelli, Pink Ponder and Ol Titch.
Carrick Park – Sunday afternoon
Ricky Duggan – driving double; Kissing Game and Our Percius.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Devonport – Friday evening
Murry 57.43s, Chilla Breeze 57.91s, Somedan 58.37s, Izaha 58.47s and Illegal Immigrant 58.64.
Carrick Park – Sunday afternoon
Hafter 57.49s, Forever Ours 58.01s, El Jays Mystery 58.05s, Courageous Katee 58.23s and Our Percius 58.33s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Devonport – Friday evening
Hit’s: Shady Story $4.20 into $2.70 and Ol Titch $101.00 into $16.00 (most corporates opened at $26.00).
Defied The Drift: Izaha $3.00 out to $3.50, Machitelli $3.80 out to $6.00 and Pink Ponder $3.60 out to $5.50.
Missed: Pushkin $4.40 into $3.40, Artiflash $3.20 into $2.30, Koolaz Elvis $3.80 into $3.30 and Flashy Ruler $10.00 into $5.50.
Carrick Park – Sunday afternoon
Hit’s: Kissing Game $7.00 into $5.00, Cardinal Ringo $1.45 into $1.28, Chris Be Quick $3.00 into $2.70 and Freds Under Fire $21.00 into $13.00.
Defied The Drift: Our Percius $8.50 out to $10.00 and Rocknroll Music $2.80 out to $3.20.
Missed: El Jays Blu $2.90 into $2.50, Falcon Harry $13 into $6.00 and Ashleys Angel $6.00 into $4.60.
Trial File
Hobart – Monday evening
The Matthew Cooper trained and driven Call Me Hector recorded the quickest winning mile rate of the night in 2m 3.0s. when winning a standing start trial by two metres over Fin Mac Kee, the only other runner in the trial. The final two quarters were recorded in 28.7s and 28.4s.
Gipsy Treasure (2m 5.2s) led all the way to defeat Princely Reign and Illawong Achilles in her trial while Rocket Blaster (2m 8.5s) scored in a standing start event by three metres over Andysbest.
Devonport – Monday evening
Only one trial was staged, with one metre separating the three contenders.
It was the Melissa Maine trained Rocknroll Curly scoring by a head. The gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven broke soon after the start and was too good for Arapaho and the early leader Bettonblack.
The mile rate for 2297 metres was 2m 12.6s with the final two sections in 33.0s and 32.2s.
Week Ahead
Nine races will be staged in Hobart on Sunday evening commencing at 17:30.
The meeting kicks off with the second heat of the Allen Williams for the maidens, where the Ben Yole trained Willybe, who will be out to go one placing better after finishing second in the first heat of the series in Devonport last Friday.
Two heats of the 6ty° Youngbloods are scheduled on the card, with Heat Three, being race three on the card and it looks a competitive affair but after winning the first heat, driver Andrew Freeman, looks well placed to add another heat win in Heat Four when he drives the in-form pacer, The Shallows.
The fast class event of the night is race seven, with a field of nine pacers to do battle, headlined by Ryley Major.
Latrobe owner Warren Viney is living most harness racing owners dream.
Viney is part owner of Cruz Bromac, who remains on track for Saturday week’s Inter Dominion Final with two second placings in the first two rounds of heats at Alexandra Park in Auckland last Friday and again last night where he lost no admirers with his brave second to stablemate Ultimate Sniper.
Cruz Bromac sits on the third line of betting for the Grand Final, but first, he has to contest the third round of his heat on Friday where he has drawn barrier two in the 2700 metre event. The race is scheduled to start at 19:24(AEDT).
Interstate and overseas this week at metropolitan venues some of our Tasmanian representatives include;
Melton – Friday Night
Race 1 at 18:18 Horse 5 Blingittothemax,
Race 6 at 20:50 Horse 1 Offthetopofmyhead,
Menangle – Saturday night
Race 6 at 21:17 Horse 11 Ignatius,
Race 7 at 21:50 Horse 6 Zhukov Leis.
Inter Dominion Heats – Alexandra Park, Auckland, Friday twilight
Race 8 at 19:24 Horse 2 Cruz Bromac.
Australiasian Young Drivers Championship – Tasmania represented by Conor Crook
Addington – Saturday twilight – (No Sky Racing Telecast)
Race 5 at 17:35 pm Horse 7 Unique Rose.
Methven – Sunday morning – (Sky Racing 2)
Race 4 at 11:37 Horse 5 Markham Eyre,
Race 7 at 13:22 Horse 11 Hilarious Prince.
*All times listed AEDST.