Tasmanian Performances During The Week
Rod Ashwood Double at Hobart
Brighton trainer/driver Rod Ashwood took the honours at Hobart on Sunday night with a driving double. He prepared the first winner, Go Lika Saab Lombo, and did the right thing by his good mate David Pennicott when he piloted Strange Conduct to win the Office National Pace.
Go Lika Saab Lombo was bred in Western Australia by Lombo Standardbreds but all his racing has been in Tasmania. The 6YO gelding commenced racing as a 2YO and has a career record of 39 – 6 – 4 – 3 for $32,916 in stakemoney. Until recent times, his trademark has been high speed and while he appears to still possess that ability his win on Sunday indicates he is getting stronger as he ages.
Strange Conduct, trained by David Pennicott, created a huge impression at his second 2YO start rating 2.01.8 for a standing start mile at Carrick but failed to win at 13 subsequent 2YO and 3YO starts. However, he appears to be back to his best as a 4YO winning at two of his three starts. On Sunday night when the strands released, Ashwood headed for the pegs behind Uncle Buzz and stayed there until the home straight and Strange Conduct gradually wore down Uncle Buzz to win by a neck with Helen Wheels 11 metres back in third place.
Campania trainer Ivan Belbin was all smiles after his 4YO mare La Ebony Kita toughed it out to win the Pack And Send Pace. Perfectly driven by ace reinsman Gareth Rattray, the Artistic Fella – La Nikita mare drew wide on the second line and obtained a three wide trail in the last lap. In a stirring finish she grabbed Blitzemgamble right on the line to win by a neck with Barooza a length away in third place.
La Ebony Kita was having her fifth race start. She was well back in three starts prior to this season but indicated things were about to change when third ($64.90) at Hobart on 29 September. Her dam La Nikita was honest and durable. She commenced racing as a 2YO and retired at the end of her 7YO season with a record of 115 – 13 – 21 – 17. La Ebony Kita is La Nikita’s only offspring.
Lightly raced 7YO mare Strezlecki Wildone utilised the pole draw to lead throughout in the Brighton Football Club Pace Division Two. Perfectly rated by Beauty Point reinsman Troy Hillier, Strezlecki Wildone had to dig deep to hold off the fast finishing I’ve Got Oomph.
Strezlecki Wildone demonstrated her ability at her first race win at Devonport in December 2012 when she rated a track record 1.59.4 for the 2297 metres. Hugo Play lowered that mark to 1.59.3 in March 2013.
Strezlecki Wildone is a daughter of the top mare Strezlecki Lady, a dual Moonee Valley winner among her 22 wins from 59 starts. Strezlecki Wildone commenced racing as a late 4YO and had 12 5YO starts before returning to the track this month after a year and a half break from racing. Her career record is 16 – 2 – 2 – 1.
Australian Drivers Championship – Saturday Night at Globe Derby (SA)
Gareth Rattray and Ricky Duggan are the Tasmanian representatives at the inaugural Australian Drivers Championship to be conducted at Globe Derby (SA) on Saturday night. The six race series will be contested by two drivers from each state and the 12 drivers have been randomly allocated to a horse in each race.
There will be seven starters across the front line and Rattray appears to have fared better than Duggan in the barrier draws. Rattray has two pole marbles and an inside second line trailing draw. His other draws are three, five and 10. Duggan received no favours when the fields were declared with barrier draws of six, nine, 10, 11 (twice) and 13.
Races two to seven make up the Australian Drivers Championship but both Rattray and Duggan will drive in the other two races and the same scenario has occurred. Rattray has drawn barriers two and five with Duggan starting from four and eight.
Other state representatives are Grant Dixon and Peter McMullen (Qld), Blake Fitzpatrick and Amanda Turnbull (NSW), Chris Alford and Greg Sugars (Vic), David Harding and Ryan Hryhorec (SA) and Gary Hall Jnr and Chris Voak (WA).
The drivers will accumulate points across the six race series with performances factored into the selection of the drivers to represent Australia at the World Driving Championships in Sydney next year.
Nine races at Launceston on Sunday
Harness acceptors during October have been pleasing and another nine race card will be contested at Launceston on Sunday night. In Race 1., Karoola trainer Dick Eaves has Hustler Halo (N11). The 4YO gelding created a big impression at his three 3YO starts with a win and a third and looks to be the one to beat but some of his opposition are handy performers. Kyleasha (N3) returns after finishing fifth in the 2YO Sweepstakes Final, Cardinal Art (N9) was third to Ektoras and Estaveo at his two starts before a spell and Faithful Jet (N8) was a handy 3YO who will have benefited from one start after a long break. Throw in Mailie Rosa (N5), Really Fiesty (N6) and Gottalovefridays (N7) and Race 1. may well be one of the highlights of the meeting.
Race 3. is the lower points division of the C1/C2 where Carly Seelster (N3) and Tisu Toota (N8) are the likely favourites but if Ive Got Oomph (N2) can repeat his performance when second to Strezlecki Wildone at Hobart on Sunday, he will also be in the finish.
The Claimers have come out of the woodwork in Race 4. with 11 acceptors – possibly the best ever turnout for a mobile Claimer. There appear to be plenty of winning chances but the big watch will be Saab Quality (N10) due to his recent switch to Mangalore trainer Mark Butler. Butler has an outstanding record with new entrants to his barn and Saab Quality has shown that, when he is right, he can compete with the best in Tasmania.
Hesa Prospect (R5 N2) is chasing his seventh win from his last eight starts. Following a three year injury enforced lay off, the 6YO Bill Dornauf trained gelding returned to racing with a win at Launceston in late September. He looks ideally placed to build on his imposing record.
Smart Tasbred 5YO’s Divas Delight (N1) and Riverboat Jasper (N2) clash again in the Tasmanian Medical Laboratories Free For All (R7) Both were unplaced in the Show Cup but are better suited here behind the mobile. It’s a small field but there could easily be an upset with Tessanzo (N3), Our Mels Dream (N5) and Greysteel (N6) all racing well. Quastor Centurion (N4) is first up for Bridport trainer Cleone Hill. The 7YO gelding won a trial at Carrick last Saturday.
Cranbre (N3) looks likely to make it two wins from two starts in Race 8. The 8YO gelding created a big impression first up at Launceston two weeks ago and while this race is slightly harder, Cranbre should be up to the task.
Two 5YO’s, Blue Pointer (N1) and Clamorous (N5), looks to be the main chances in Race 9. Blue Pointer returned to the track last week at Hobart and registered his seventh win from his last 12 starts – he has placed at three of the other five starts. Clamorous has been away from the track for 10 weeks after winning three of his last four starts.
Harness Form Analysis
Information on Launceston is available at www.tasracing.com.au in the Punters Corner section.