02 March 2018 | Duncan Dornauf
The stars were out in force in Tasmania last weekend and it started early in Hobart on Friday evening when Ideal Bliss continued her path to the Tasmanian Oaks with an easy win in the opening race. After starting from the second row the Paul Hill trained filly was able to win untroubled in a time of 1:57.6.
There were a number of feature races in Devonport on Sunday evening where Harjeet continued to go through the grades with an effortless win in the Patrons Marathon. In the fast class race of the night the NTLHA Cup Dapper Dana was able to score his second win since returning to the track from an injury forced lay off.
Volkova Leis was able to cling on and win the Allen Williams Memorial while Natalee Emery was able to register her first win for Team Teal when she guided Resurgent Dream to victory in the Leigh Plunkett.
Tonight harness racing heads to Burnie for a seven-event program before the action swings to Hobart on Sunday evening for the 3YO Fillies Championship and the Ascot Gold Cup.
The Stars
Hannah Van dongen– Showed great horsemanship to stay in the sulky around the first corner aboard Stylish Trend in the final race on the Devonport program, after she locked wheels with another runner and became significantly unbalanced, after the early dilemma she was able to position Stylish Trend behind the leader and was able to get out around the home corner to win the race by 1.6-metres to register a driving double on the program.
Harjeet – one of the most exciting horses in the state at present and that was once again seen with an effortless win in the Patrons Marathon. The Todd Rattray trained and driven pacer remains on track for the $40,000 Raider Stakes in Devonport in April and no doubt the connections will be tempted to have a throw at the stumps with the $75,000 Easter Cup later this month.
Trevor and Marjorie Leis – The Smithton based owner-breeders didn’t have to worry too much about Volkova Leis and Karpenkova Leis battling out the Allen Williams Memorial Final as they owned and bred both pacers. Only a short half head separated the two at the finish of the $12,000 race.
Rohan Hillier – had a successful weekend across the two meetings last week. The Beauty Point horseman drove a double in Hobart on Friday before he trained and drove injury plagued pacer Dapper Danna to victory in the NTLHA Cup.
Bevan Thomas– hobby trainer was rewarded for his perseverance with Heavenly Rock who won his first race since January 29, 2017.
Multiple Winners
Hobart – Friday
Rohan Hillier – driving double; Ideal Bliss and Lord Stark.
Rohan Hadley – driving double; Long Ago and Liv Lavish.
Ben Yole – training double; Long Ago and Liv Lavish.
Paul Hill – trained Ideal Bliss and drove Iden Amrak.
Devonport Sunday
Todd Rattray –training double; Harjeet and Koolaz Elvis, and made it a driving treble with Heavenly Rock.
Hannah Van Dongen – driving double with Cemento Rapido and Stylish Trend.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action in Hobart on Friday.
Sign Of A Tyne 57.88, Dasher Houli 57.92, Artarama 58.33, Demonstrative 58.36 and Rollon Jack 58.36.
View all sectional data from the meeting here.
And from Devonport on Sunday.
Dapper Dana 56.56, Harjeet 56.83, Modern Ruler 57.16, Washmepockets 57.29 and Drifting Away 57.39.
View all sectional data from the meeting here.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart
Hit:Liv Lavish $31 into $24.
Defied The Drift: Lord Stark $5.50 out to $6, Franco Hammond $7 out to $7.50, Debt Till We Part $6 out to $8.
Missed: I’m Paige $17 into $14.
Devonport
Hit:Volkova Leis $2.25 into $1.95, Koolaz Elvis $2.90 into $2.50.
Defied The Drift: Heavenly Rock $8 out to $9.50, Cemento Rapido $2.60 out to $3.00, All Style Sammy $2.40 out to $3.30.
Trial File
Burnie on Monday
The trials at the Burnie Paceway were postponed on Friday evening after inclement weather swept through northern Tasmania with the trials being held on Monday evening.
Talented four-year-old Scooterwillrev returned to the track for the first time since finishing third in the Breeders Crown Silver Final in Geelong in late August. The Tasmanian Derby winner started off a 40-metre handicap to win by 1-metre in a mile rate of 2:05.2 in the 2180-metre trial.
The other trial on the program was won by Freds Under Fire in a mile rate of 2:13.0.
Week Ahead
The action kicks off at Burnie in the twilight zone today with a seven-race program commencing at 17:35.
Race four on the program the NWTLHA Mares Feature is one of the highlights on the program where Bridport trainer Brooke Hammond prepares the two favourites for the race. Punters have installed Hamna Shida the favourite in early markets, to be driven by the states leading driver Todd Rattray. The Four Starzzz Shark mare was a winner in Devonport four starts ago which was his first win in five standing start attempts. Hammond’s other runner in the race is Hot Shot Bonnie who will be driven by Gareth Rattray who currently sits second on the Premiership table this season. Hot Shot Bonnie has had three standing start races for two wins, with one of those coming on this track four starts back.
The action then heads south to Hobart where the $15,000 3YO Fillies Championship is the feature race on the program.
One of the countries best drivers, Gavin Lang has been booked to drive talented filly Ideal Bliss who will start from the pole position. The winner of five races from seven starts in her career comes in the race off a brilliant win in Hobart last Friday when winning in 1:57.6 for the 1609-metre event. The two interesting runners in the race are the Rohan Hillier trained and driven pacer Giftofjoy who is first up in the state and comes into the race off a last start win at Invercargill in New Zealand while interstate rival Ghadastar will take on a strong local contingent.
The race is one of the last lead up races to the $30,000 Tasmanian Oaks on March 18.
The nine-race program that also features the Ascot Gold Cup commences at 17:53 and all of the action will be live streamed on tasracing.com.au with pre and post-race interviews, market updates and past race replays.
There are also a few Tasmanian runners to keep an eye on interstate this weekend including;
Friday – Menangle
Race 1; Pachacuti and Race 8; Ignatius.
Saturday – Cranbourne
Race 2; Padabing Stride.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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