Tasmanian Performances During The Week
Barynya is back
Australia’s best filly last season is back at the races. Barynya, owned by Lloyd and Judy Whish-Wilson and trained by Dick Eaves, returns to the scene of her greatest triumph when she competes in the $30,000 Harness Breeders Victoria Ladyship Cup at Melton on Saturday night.
Barynya has not raced since 24 August 2014 when second in the $213,000 Breeders Crown Final at Melton. She won the $150,000 Victorian Oaks at the same venue in May.
2015 Harness Yearling Website Page – Reserve Price Listed
The 2015 Harness Yearling Website Page is now available for prospective buyers to evaluate some quality Tasbred yearlings. The page replaces the traditional yearling sale format and will be available up to 27 February 2015.
Twenty of the 21 yearlings now have a reserve price listed on the page. Buyers can utilise Tasbred breeding incentives to purchase yearlings via the website page. The incentives that can be used are the Breeders Coupon and the Tasbred Owners Breeding Incentive (TOBI).
Any yearling that is advertised on the website page, and has fulfilled all the conditions of the sale, will be eligible for a $2,000 first win bonus provided the win is achieved before the horse reaches five years of age. The $2,000 will be shared between the vendor and buyer with $1,000 for the vendor and $1,000 for the owner at the time the horse wins a race.
All transactions and discussions are to take place between the Vendor and the Buyer.
Full details can be accessed at http://tasrace.in/HY-15
Vandenberg Transport Carrick Cup
The Carrick Park Pacing Club committee was rewarded for their excellent planning and promotion when a big crowd was trackside to enjoy the seven races last Saturday. The $8,000 Vandenberg Transport Carrick Cup provided another trophy in his large cabinet for leading trainer Barrie Rattray when Ciskei, driven by Todd Rattray, held on to defeat Whisper Jet (Zeke Slater) and the fast finishing Vande Velde (Christian Salter). The Rattray’s combined to win the same race last year with Devendra and Barrie trained and drove previous winners Anchor Man (1993) and Malabar (1994).
A highlight of the day was the first winner for driver Lee Simmonds when Siduri finished strongly in the straight to defeat Buckingham Boy (Todd Rattray) and Sum One (Leigh Barker) in the lower points division of the C0/C1 race. Simmonds was a trainer up to 1990. She returned to harness racing as a stablehand in 2012, became a trainer in September 2013 and acquired her drivers licence in January 2014. Seventeen winless drives followed before she broke the ice with Sidura on Saturday.
Siduri is trained by Lee’s husband Colin and it’s a long trip down memory lane to find their last winner. It was Mister Peabody at Devonport in April 1986 with Colin driving. Shortly after, both took a break from harness racing and found their way back about three years ago as stablehands for Dick Eaves. They now work two horses at Eaves’ property and run their own woodwork business.
It was a big day for the Karoola property with Eaves training a double. Weona Masterpiece (Dylan Ford) led throughout to win the Trevor Mazzone Memorial and One Mans Pass was driven patiently by Adrian Collins before moving wide on the home corner and sprinting away for an easy win in the NTLHA Country Championship.
Le Wi Bulent won his first race in the Powell Agri-Business non winners. The 4YO Brad Walters trained gelding is, as his name suggests, small. Winless at his previous 23 starts, Le Wi Bulent has been building up to a win finishing second, third and fourth at his three prior runs.
‘Williams’ meeting at Hobart
Deb and Paul Williams are not related but they have a lot in common. Apart from the surname, they are harness trainers, live at Bagdad, have been in top form over the last fortnight and both trained a winner at Hobart on Sunday afternoon.
Paul Williams was backing up after a training double at New Norfolk on Australia Day with Iden Makin Time and Ive Got Oomph. His stable star, Metro Digby, was on his best behaviour at Hobart and endured a three wide trip to hold on and win the Light Harness Tasmania Pace (C1). The 4YO gelding has always shown above average ability but his manners and inconsistent racing pattern have frustrated Williams.
Deb Williams had her first race starter for 14 months when Ardlussa Express won at Devonport on 25 January and she was back at the track Sunday at Hobart when Ardlussa Express (Natalee Emery) sprinted late to beat Lickyalips (Ricky Duggan) and Sky Tower (Dylan Ford).
Ardlussa Express is an Ex New Zealander who arrived in Australia 12 months ago assessed C2. The 7YO gelding won a race during a six month stay in Victoria before coming to Tasmania in June last year. Since then, Ardlussa Express has won three races for Zeke Slater and two for Deb Williams.
Really Thirsty is the first horse qualified for the $10,000 Allen Williams Memorial Final at Devonport on 8 March. The 4YO mare, trained and driven by Justin Campbell at Plenty, won the first heat of the series at Hobart on Sunday afternoon.
Bred by David and Anne Dean, Really Thirsty was purchased at the Tasmanian Premier Harness Yearling Sale by Maree Fasoli and Malcolm Campbell and the owners have given her plenty of time to develop and it looks like paying off. The mare was third on debut at Carrick in December 2014, followed that with a second placing at New Norfolk on Australia Day then won at Hobart last Sunday.