News Article

Weekly Harness Wrap

30 / 10 / 2014 Article by: TR Internal
Melissa Maine after the win of Siduri. icon Click to enlarge

Melissa Maine and Gareth Rattray double at Hobart

Latrobe trainer Melissa Maine and her partner Gareth Rattray got a perfect result at Hobart last Sunday night when they completed a double with their two starters. Five year old gelding Notimetothink (Metropolitan – Malibee) was the first to win after spearing to the early lead and scoring easily by 12 metres from Angkristy (Rohan Hillier). Notimetothink appreciated the drop in class with the race being the lower pointsw division of the C1.

 

The Maine/Rattray double was completed in the following race when Faithful Jet death seated and proved too classy winning by 4.5 metres from Master Charlie (Brady Woods). The Jeremes Jet – Faithful Sally gelding ended his 3YO season with two wins and a sixth placing in the $30,000 Globe Derby Final. After a 16 month spell, he returned to the track this month as a 5YO and was placed fifth in both starts prior to Sunday nights win.

 

Rattray went on to complete a driving treble behind Saab Quality in the Claimer. The 8YO Saab – Bonny Sovereign gelding was having his second start for Dysart trainer Mark Butler and Rattray launched him three wide as they turned for home and they wore down Babes Boy Bob (Nathan Ford) in the last 75 metres.

 

Brighton reinsman Dylan Ford achieved a double with Play Apple Tree and Vander Jenkins. He trains Play Apple Tree and the lightly raced 6YO mare returned to the track in August this year after an injury enforced two and a half year break. She won first up, was placed once at her next three and followed that with three consecutive wins. Play Apple Tree led throughout on Sunday night in a handy C2/C4 field and her task was made much easier when Ford walked her through the first half in 65.4 before finishing off in 58.4. Play Apple Tree’s career record is an impressive 15 – 7 – 1 – 3 and $39,446 in stakemoney.

 

Vander Jenkins, a recent Queensland import for Underwood trainer Heath Szczypka, sprinted quickly in the home straight to record a comfortable two metre win ahead of Ebabe (Ricky Duggan). The 4YO Western Edition – Whisperette mare has won two of her four Tasmanian starts and was third in another.

 

Vander Jenkins is another success story for Szczypka who has an impressive record of identifying local and interstate mares suited to Tasmanian racing. Other recent examples are Helen Wheels (four Tassie wins), Came Rollin In (5), Sunrise Lady (4), Romantic Moment (3), Bertils Delight (2) and Maddie Pickone (2).

 

Brighton trainer/driver Christian Salter continued his marvelous start to the season when Pharoahs Wrath ($27.20) arrived late to edge out Fire Up Franco (Nathan Ford) in the non winners race. A 4YO mare by Courage Under Fire – Goldleaf Art, Pharoahs Wrath was unplaced at all seven two and three year old starts and was first up from a 12 month spell but she did finish second in a recent Hobart trial prior to Sunday night’s win.

 

Salter has trained five winners and four placings from 13 starters this season mainly through the deeds of Aninchofhislife, Island Disco, Rockbank Dancer and Pharoahs Wrath. He may improve on the record in the weeks ahead as his smart 4YO gelding, Vander Velde, trialed impressively at Hobart on Monday night.

 

Beautide at  Menangle on Saturday night

The Beautide journey to the $750,000 Miracle Mile at Menangle on Saturday night 29 November) continues this weekend. He has drawn barrier nine in the $30,000 TAB Nick Robin Free For All. While the field contains many horse hoping for a Miracle Mile start, his nemesis Suave Stuey Lombo is missing.

 

The tempo has been hot at both starts for Beautide this season. On 20 September and 4 October he has faced torrid death seat runs outside the flying Suave Stuey Lombo in a 1.50.1 mile – 0.1 seconds quicker than Beautide’s 1.50.2 in the 2013 Miracle Mile. In the last month connections have treated a low level virus and Beautide is now back on track with the Miracle Mile his short term target.

 

Eight races at Launceston on Sunday

Eight races are scheduled for Launceston on Sunday night. In the first, Alpinion (N3) is first up in Tasmania for Brighton trainer John Timbs. The 4YO ex Victorian gelding had eight unplaced 2YO starts. After a 14 month spell, Alpinion won first up at Bendigo four weeks ago and followed that with an unplaced Shepparton run.

 

Hesa Prospect will be out to redeem his last start failure when he contests the C1 & better stand (Race 2.). He looks ideally placed in barrier two and he won and was placed from the strands as a 2YO.

 

Carrick trainer Ross Freeman has two runners returning from a spell. Me Mate Tyson (N6) is in Race 3 and placed once from four 2YO starts. Me Mate Tyson was midfield in a Carrick trial on Monday night. Our Jetar (N4) won one from seven starts as a 3YO and returns to the track in Race 4. where Kyleasha (N1) and Gottalovefridays (N2) will be hard to beat.

 

Race 5. appears to have many winning chances. Aninchofhislife (N4) stood out in the video replays from Hobart last Sunday night but Ciskei (N1), Another Jasper (N3), Blue Pointer (N6) and El Jays Magic (N8) will attract plenty of support.

 

Cranbre (N4) is after his third win in Race 6. The undefeated 8YO gelding has found another winnable race. Jodila (N8) may be the main danger.

 

Melolyn (N3) returns from a two month break in Race 7. The 5YO gelding won a Carrick trial on Monday night and has been a model of consistency over the last 14 months with seven wins, four seconds, two thirds and two fourth placings from 15 starts. The other dangers are drawn close to Melolyn – Clamorous (N1), Giuliani (N2) and Rykov Leis (N4).

 

Harness Form Analysis

Information on Hobart is available  at the Punters Corner section on the Tasracing website.