05 February 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
The Group 3 Hardings Hotmix Devonport Pacing Cup headlined a great night’s action in Devonport on Sunday night where we saw a deserved winner in Illegal Immigrant who raced wide for the final 1200 metres in the Group 3 event.
This Friday night in Hobart we see the feature races continue with the $25,000 Triple M Hobart Pacing Cup before we head to Launceston for the Final of the Harry Holgate Memorial and the Launceston Discretionary.
The Stars
Illegal Immigrant – deserved a feature race win and he finally got that when he scored in the Group 3 Hardings Hotmix Devonport Pacing Cup. The American Ideal gelding is trained and driven by Troy Hillier who part-owns the pacer along with his wife Michelle. Illegal Immigrant was purchased out of New Zealand in November of 2017 and in his time in the Hillier stable the gelding has won 15 races and $125,000 in prizemoney.
Gotta Good Reason – led all the way to score at his first start since arriving in the state in the Tas Freight Dash For Cash. The recent Mark Yole stable addition was able to hold the lead over the 1930 metre trip from the pole draw. After holding the lead concession driver Troy McDonald was able to get a 63.9s first half mile before recording quarters of 29.5s and 29.5s to record his thirteenth career win.
Melnrowley – from the Craig Hayes stables she was able to break her maiden status on debut in the $12,000 Carlton and United Breweries Belmont for the two-year-old fillies. The daughter of Heston Blue Chip was also driven by Hayes, raced outside the leader in a 67.4s first half mile before being too tough late in a 61.0s last half.
Ben Yole – trained a treble on the Devonport card including two trifectas and one quinella. That quinella was in the $12,000 Jeremy Rockliff Coastal Pacing Thousand where $35.00 chance Hezatoff stormed home to win after enjoying a soft run on the pegs.
Gareth Rattray – Drove a treble on the card including Hezatoff along with Devil Of Tyne who scored a narrow victory earlier in the night. The master driver’s last win came with Colby Sanz in the final race on the card where he proved too tough for his rivals after racing outside the leader for a large portion of the race.
Multiple Winners
Launceston – Friday evening
Conor Crook – driving treble; Lip Reader, Monarkmac and Laid Back Kenny,
Rohan Hillier – training double; Lip Reader and Monarkmac.
Devonport – Sunday evening
Ben Yole – training treble; Tarleton Riley, Shestryingtactics and Hezatoff,
Gareth Rattray – driving treble; Devil Of Tyne and Hezatoff and Colby Sanz,
Troy McDonald – driving double; Tarleton Riley and Gotta Good Reason.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Launceston – Friday evening
Lip Reader 57.05s, Juniper 57.61s, Arctic 57.62s, Chris Be Quick 57.71s and Tizyalator 57.79s.
Devonport – Sunday evening
Illegal Immigrant 58.83s, Chasing Cheetahs 58.87s, Gotta Good Reason 59.00s, Just Say Go 59.07s and Smart Little Shard 59.13s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston – Friday evening
Hit’s: Resurgent Storm $3.50 into $2.90 and Sunoflindenny $2.60 into $2.15.
Defied The Drift: Resolute Ruler $4.80 out to $5.00, Monarkmac $3.80 out to $4.80 and Laid Back Kenny $6.50 out to $7.00.
Missed: Witch Master $10.00 into $5.00, Border Cross $14.00 into $6.00, Heza Rummage $16.00 into $9.00, Sweet Luck $21.00 into $10.00 and Lake Eye $21.00 into $12.00.
Devonport – Sunday evening
Hit’s: Tarleton Riley $11.00 into $7.50 and Melnrowley $2.10 into $1.90.
Defied The Drift: Devil Of Tyne $6.50 out to $10.00, Shestryingtactics $8.50 out to $17.00 and Gotta Good Reason $9.00 out to $15.00.
Missed: Amendment Thirteen $6.00 into $3.50, Flight Officer $19.00 into $8.00, Chasing Cheetahs $3.60 into $3.00, Smart Little Shard $5.50 into $4.20, Dasher Houli $9.00 into $6.50 and Jimmy Smalls $3.00 into $2.50.
Trial File
Hobart – Monday evening
Four trials were staged in Hobart on Monday evening where the Bianca Heenan-trained Betterbsweet recorded the quickest winning mile rate of the session in 2m 5.5s in a rating 54 to 59 trial.
The daughter of Betterthancheddar was able to lead in the trial to score a four-metre trial with Christian Salter in the sulky.
Other winners included The Shallows who scored in a standing start trial in 2m 6.3s after starting from a 20-metre handicap with Iden Reactor (2m 6.1s) and Royal Reactor (2m 7.4s) scoring in the other trials.
Carrick Park – Monday evening
Six-year-old gelding Artiflash was the quickest trial winner of the seven trials held at Carrick Park.
The Ben Yole-trained gelding scored by five-metres over Ready To Fire.
Rohan Hadley took the reins in the rating 64 or better trial with the mile rate for the 2150 metre trip recorded in 2m 3.3s with the last half mile covered in 61.2s.
Other winners included: Machbev (2m 8.8s), The New Man (2m 5.6s), Peaceful Thomas (2m 6.2s), Shady Story (2m 11.1s), Mozasu (2m 15.9s) and Jeans Mattjesty (2m 10.2s).
Week Ahead
It’s Hobart Cup weekend and it kicks off with the $25,000 Triple M Hobart Pacing Cup on Friday night at Ladbrokes Park Hobart.
The final field will be released later this afternoon, but it is expected that star pacer Ryley Major will headline the race with Izaha and Call Me Hector expected to be some of the names in the final field.
Sunday night in Launceston we see the running of the $12,000 Harry Holgate Memorial Final.
Heats of the race were staged on Friday night where Lip Reader and Resurgent Storm were the two heat winners.
The $12,000 Launceston Discretionary is another feature on the card over 2200 metre trip where Sea Double Ugrant, Somedan, Ideal Wold and Poker Storm all share the 10-metre back mark.
Some horses with a Tasmanian connection this weekend include;
Melton – Saturday night
Race 2 Horse 8 Blingittothemax.
Menangle – Saturday night
Race 6 Horse 2 Ignatius,
Race 7 (Group 2) Horse 12 Max Delight.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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