Tasracing

A massive 11-race card with a host of feature races takes place in Launceston on Sunday night, with two $50,000 Group 2 features on the mammoth card.

The Tasbred three-year-old colts and geldings will do battle in the $50,000 Ladbrokes Globe Derby Stakes.

Sidmouth trainer Mark Jones puts the polish on Kosimo in the feature, with the pacer drawing awkwardly on the second row which hasn’t deterred punters backing the pacer in from $4.60 into $4.00 when markets first went up.

Kosimo did plenty of work over the final 800 metres in his heat when run down late by Kohanah last week.

“It was a good run, he couldn’t do much more, he just got a little bit tired late and Kohanah just had a lovely run and had the last shot at him,” said trainer Mark Jones.

The other heat winner was Micton Mouse, who has been installed as the $1.80 favourite after drawing barrier four.

Kivik ($4.80) and Kohanah ($7.50 into $6.50) have both drawn the second row.

Jones sent Kosimo to Victoria during the COVID-19 enforced shutdown of Tasmanian racing, where he won at Bendigo in late May in a slick 1m 55.5s.

“He seems to be staying a lot better since he came home and he has been doing plenty of work in his races, said Jones.

Jones has given driving responsibilities once again to Rohan Hillier who has an impressive record in the race.

“You can’t tell good drivers how to drive them, Rohan has won a couple of Globe Derby finals, so he knows what he is doing,” said Jones.

Kosimo’s latest win was in Launceston on 5 July.

“Sunday will be his fifth run this preparation and his last win was his fifth start back that campaign, and then we gave him a break after that win with this race in mind,” said the trainer.

Jones also has Scotlynn Beach engaged in race 10, backing up a week after scoring in 1m 59.2s, with the pacer drawing the front-row this week for the first time since arriving in the state.

“He has got plenty of gate speed, he led at Cobram one day and broke the track record going 1m 53.6s, but it is not the end of the world if he doesn’t lead,” said Jones, with his son Malcom taking the drive.

The 6ty° Bandbox is the other Group 2 race on the card where Blame It On Me continues to impress since returning from injury, and she looks the one to beat after drawing barrier four. Bookmakers agree installing her as the $1.80 favourite.

Another highlight on the card is the time-honoured Doug Martin Danbury Park Cup for the open class pacers over 2698 metres where Ignatius and Call Me Hector share the 20-metre handicap.

The Shirley Martin Mother Of Pearl has attracted a strong field, despite a heat of the Collins Homes Granny Smith on the card taking some contenders away from the race.

Feel the Burn and Giftofjoy both return from a spell and have second row draws to contend with and appear as the two main chances.

Two heats of the Maxfield Drilling Raider Stakes are also set down for decision on the 11-race card.

The Launceston Pacing Club will continue the Doug and Shirley Martin tradition of having trophies for the winning owner, trainer, driver and strapper.

The meeting commences at 17:12 and will be live hosted on TasracingTV, with Sky Racing 2 covering the first two races and Sky Racing 1 to telecast the remainder.

Watch Kohanah defeat Kosimo in the heat of the Globe Derby last week.