01 April 2019 | Shane Yates
Two trainers dominated Sunday night’s Launceston Pacing Club meeting at the TAB Racing Centre, Ben Yole cemented his place at the top of the Premiership table with an amazing run of five winners while Kent Rattray nailed a winning double on the eight-event card.
Kent’s winners were Karalta Kruise (pictured) which was sent the popular pick after opening up at $5.00 and tumbling into $3.40 in race two The Bevan Lee’s Butchery Pace over 2200-metres and Jimi Sanz in the Jubilee Bakery Two Year Old.
However, the weekend wasn’t all plain sailing for the Lietinna trainer.
“The wheels had literally fallen off on Friday night after the races, I didn’t make it any further than Kempton and a wheel came off the float so it was a bit of task to get the horses home, Todd (Rattray) took one and Marc (Butler) chipped in as well so that was handy but it meant a hectic day Saturday getting everything sorted,” said Kent.
“We had a change of fortune Sunday luckily, I took my $20 to have on Karalta Kruise thinking I’d get $8.00 but it was already into $3.70, but a winner’s a winner, he was a little stiff not to win the last start and when John (Walters) was able to find the top I was confident he would be hard to run down.”
Karalta Kruise gave nothing else a chance in the straight coming away on the line to score by 6.8 metres after running home in a smart 57.8 seconds.
Rattray’s Rock N Roll Heaven-Soho Knightly colt Jimi Sanz ($7.40) was having just his second start at the sports after running last on debut in Hobart behind Missin Rock.
“He’s beautifully bred and a really nice type, he’s a real Denis the Menace, if there is trouble around he will either cause it or find it,” said Kent.
“He ran 60-metres off last in Hobart on debut but we made a slight gear change and that made all the difference, he found the lead early and was then challenged by the favourite Kohanah ($1.20) but he responded like a good horse and when the heat was turned up on the home corner he was in for the fight, they had a great battle up the straight but Jimi got there by a half-head, if he pulls up well we will press on to the Golden Slipper in a fortnight.”
Ben Yole’s sensational night saw the Sidmouth trainer in the winners stall on five occasions.
Border Cross started the run when Samantha Gangell guided the seven-year-old to his first Tasmanian win at odds of $48.10, Troy McDonald charged to an eight-metre win with Northview Dave in the fourth of the night before Gareth Rattray made it three straight for the stable leading all the way with Artarama.
Stuey D took the honours in the Trotters Handicap for Mark Yole who then promptly followed up with an inspired drive on the Allen Williams Memorial final winner Nor Westa which ran favourite in the last scoring by 4.3-metres.
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