22 June 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Four-year-old pacer Mister Gently (pictured) stamped himself as a strong contender for the Raider Stakes in Devonport later in the year after a tough win in Launceston on Sunday night.
Driver Gareth Rattray positioned the pacer one-out and two-back before he attempted to improve his position around the field with roughly 1700 metres to travel.
The move wasn’t successful, and the pacer was forced to race three-wide for the remainder of the race, but if there was any upside, he was able to gain a three-wide trail for the final 800 metres.
Mister Gently was able to prove too tough for his rivals late to score by a neck over the fast-finishing Kardesler with Chris Be Quick 3.9-metres away third in a mile rate of 2m 0.6s for the 2200-metre trip.
It was the fifth career win at start eight for the gelded son of Live Or Die and his trainer Craig Hayes is now being rewarded with his patience earlier on in the pacer’s career.
“He just didn’t pace well, he showed me enough at home he would dash up and go good, but his hopples would rub him and just a few little things, he wasn’t quite ready, so we decided to bite the bullet and leave him, and now it looks like it’s the best decision I have made,” said Hayes.
The Raider Stakes will now be held in Devonport later in the season.
No date has been set, but Tasracing did release early this month that the race will be held in October or November.
“The 2645 metres (the distance of the Raider Stakes) will suit him as his biggest asset is his staying ability, he can stay all day, he might lack a yard of high speed, but he is very strong,” said Hayes.
Win 250 for Rattray
Longford trainer Todd Rattray registered a double on last night’s card with the win of Feel the Burn delivering him a milestone win.
It was Todd Rattray’s 250th training win after having his first start as a trainer on 1 February 2015.
Feel the Burn was previously trained in New South Wales by Todd’s brother James and the Somebeachsomewhere mare put the writing on the wall with a handy second in Hobart last week.
Rattray, who also took the drive, was keen to take bad luck out of the equation after finding the spot outside the leader early in the race.
“She had to do it a bit hard tonight, but she is pretty strong and ran through the line alright,” said Rattray.
Jigamaroo gave the Rattray stable a training double when the four-year-old gelding led all the way for concession driver Lachlan Dakin.
“He had been working good, I thought to race him fresh and that he might surprise us,” said Rattray with the gelded son of Bettors Delight not having a trial in recent weeks.
Blackbird Power was another horse to win last night after putting the writing on the wall in Hobart last week.
The seven-year-old gelding worked forward mid-race to find the spot outside the leader to score by 4.3 metres in a mile rate of 2m 0.3s.
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