Harness Racing this coming Sunday night returns to UBET Park, Elwick, where a seven event program will be staged by the Tasmanian Pacing Club.
The Eddie Hook Pace has only attracted seven starters but looks a very open race. Vande Velde has won three of his last five starts and looks the testing material. He is a four year old gelded son of Four Starzzz Shark and the winning Albert Albert mare, Good Gracious. He will be driven by his trainer Christine Salter. Other good chances in the race are the polemarker The Dip, the Grant Hodges stablemates Clamorous, El’s Jays Magic, and Ardlussa Express.
The David Bird Pace for two year olds has attracted a field of ten. The consistent Spot Eight, three thirds and a fourth from his four starts looks hard to beat from his favourable draw. This bay gelded son of Tiz A Masterpiece will be driven by the state leading reinsman Gareth Rattray. Somedan has raced on three occasions since coming to Tasmania for three placings, and the son of Somebeachsomewhere should not be far away. He will be driven by Mark Yole, brother of the trainer Ben Yole.
In the Michael Stubbs Pace the polemaker Cranbre looks hard to beat in a very open race. This gelded son of Life Sign and the good winner Cranleigh. Cranleigh is a daughter of Thorate that won twelve races and has also produced Riverboat Jasper, a winner of thirteen races. Cranbre is very lightly raced eight year old. He has had only twelve starts for four wins and three placings. He will be driven by Todd Rattray. Other good chances in the race are Neonjet, two wins and three seconds from his last five starts, Belliciouslips, Original Art and Aninchofhislife.
Tasmanian pacers are well represented on the major tracks in Melbourne and Sydney this weekend. Friday night at Melton The Family Guy will start from barrier six in the $30,000 Empire Stallions Vicbred Championship final, whilst Spitfire Rose, who finished a close second to Barynya at Melton the previous week, will start from barrier three in the TAB.com.au Pace.
At Menangle on Saturday night five Tasmanian pacers will contest races. Diva’s Delight is in race one, Modern Ruler is shooting for a hat trick in race two, Melolyn and the last start winner Blue Pointer are in the following race. The well-travelled Laterron is in race five.
By Peter Cooley