The 2010 Bullock Consulting Youngbloods concluded at The TOTE Racing Centre (Launceston) last night but young drivers (under the age of twenty three) appear set to remain in the spotlight and dominate the seven race card at Hobart tonight. In total they will drive 27 of the 60 horses.
Nathan Ford is our leading junior driver and Brighton trainer Christian Salter has engaged him for one of his two runners in the first race. He will partner the two year old Bettors Express, a half brother to the former star local Fleet Express. Two starts back, Bettors Express flashed home late to be narrowly beaten by Semose Twenty.
Ford had a choice of drives in the second and has opted for Merlin Of Camelot in preference to Maracas Bay. Both horses contested different heats of the Eric Reece Memorial at TattersallsPark (Hobart) on 20 June with Maracas Bay second and Merlin Of Camelot fifth. However, Merlin of Camelot led and was only beaten seven metres by the highly promising Call Me James in much faster time in a stronger heat than Maracas Bay.
Ford also has excellent winning prospects on in form claimer Waterloo Bay in race three, recent winner Oscars Ace from the pole in race four and Jack Leslie in what appears to be a winnable C1 race.
Mark Yole did not participate in the Bullock Consulting Youngbloods as he was registered in Victoria but he is eligible for next year’s series. After returning to Tasmania in January this year, he has charged through the junior driver table and with 20 wins is in fourth place, one win behind James Johnson (21) and Todd Rattray (21).
He looks to have good prospects of adding to his tally with Maracas Bay in race two, Rowella Knight in race three and Twograndahand in race five.
Sixteen year old Alex Ashwood has only been driving for 29 days but will be eyeing his fourth winner when he drives his father Rod’s horses King For A Day (race five) and Honest Art (race seven).
Ashwood drove his third career winner at The TOTE Racing Centre last night behind the Rohan Hillier trained King of Bling. He rated King Of Bling perfectly, leading throughout and low flying the last quarter in 27.1, which was easily the quickest of the night.
Melissa Maine will be too old for the 2011 Bullock Consulting Youngbloods but she is doing the six hour return trip tonight from Devonport to Hobart and has three handy drives for Paul Medhurst behind Bro Town (race two), The Bullionaire (race four) and Bayfield High (race five). However, her best may be in race seven with Its A Hoot for Brighton trainer Adrian Duggan.