15 July 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Ignatius returned from a spell in winning form at Menangle on Saturday night, where the Tasmanian bred and owned pacer scored a narrow victory in a time of 1m 51.0s for the mile trip.
Another Tasmanian doing well is Jack Laugher who drove four winners on Tuesday at Kilmore, one of many Tasmanians doing great things interstate.
It was almost a handy payday for one punter trackside in Launceston on Friday night.
The punter had a seven leg multi with a return of more than $70,000, the last leg of the multi was for Delightful Junie to run a place in the final race of the night. Unfortunately, that mare was defeated by a head for third, another hard-luck punting story.
The Stars
Marc Butler – had a fantastic weekend, he took Sermac and Beachboy Butch to Launceston, and both horses won. Butler then took Raymonds Judge and Full Speed Ahead and again both horses were first past the post. Butler is currently third on the state’s trainers title this season with 29 winners and 18 placings from 76 starters.
Missin Rock – it is hard to believe that the Eric Jacobson-trained three-year-old filly had only won one race before her victory at start 17 in Hobart on Sunday. The daughter of Pet Rock has been placed in several feature races this season including the Tasmanian Oaks and Three-Year-Old Fillies Championship.
Still Hungover – was one of three winners on the Hobart card for driver Ricky Duggan. The four-year-old mare was well supported in betting and was given a lovely drive by Duggan to use the sprint line to score her seventh career victory.
Rocknroll Nitro – trainer Paul Hill continued his excellent record with the two-year-old’s again on Sunday when Rocknroll Nitro scored his first win. The gelding is a full brother to Rocknroll Turbo, and a half-brother to Enterprising Milly, Jerrys Jet and Fourstarzzzgirl.
Kent Rattray – is another trainer that has a good run with two-year-old’s in recent seasons and we saw that again in Launceston on Friday night. The first race saw four two-year-olds compete against five older rivals. Three of the two-year-olds were from Rattray’s stable, and they filled the trifecta with Stormy Sanz defeating Indianna Sanz and Impulsive George.
Multiple Winners
Launceston – Friday evening
Marc Butler – training double; Sermac and Beachboy Butch.
Gareth Rattray – driving double; Stormy Sanz, Rocknroll Curly.
Rohan Hillier – double; trained Monarkmac and drove Emjays Black Chip.
Hobart– Sunday evening
Ricky Duggan – driving treble; Rocknroll Nitro, Still Hungover and Full Speed Ahead.
Marc Butler – training double; Raymonds Judge and Full Speed Ahead.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Launceston – Friday evening
Mia From Memphis 56.94s, Monarkmac 57.40s, Bold Centurian 57.56s, Ruffalo 57.69s and Delightful Junie 57.75s.
Hobart – Sunday evening
Stormont Star 56.72s, Kardesler 56.74s, Still Hungover 56.89s, Giftofjoy 56.90s and Blacklist 57.18s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston – Friday evening
Hit’s: Stormy Sanz $1.40 into $1.28, Sermac $4.60 into $4.20 and Beachboy Butch $5.00 into $4.60.
Defied The Drift: Rocknroll Curly $9.00 out to $12, Monarkmac $3.00 out to $3.20, Courageous Katee $8.00 out to $9.00 and Emjays Black Chip $4.60 out to $5.00
Missed: Heavenly Rock $16 into $8.00, Heza Sport $2.50 into $2.00, Class Tells $5.50 into $5.00, Mia From Memphis $9.00 into $7.50, Perfect Mach $14 into $9.50, Three Cases $41 into $21 and Baccarat $26 into $17.
Hobart – Sunday evening
Hit’s: Missin Rock $2.80 into $1.75, Raymonds Judge $4.00 into $2.60, Jocund $2.80 into $2.00, Still Hungover $5.50 into $2.90, Debt Till We Part $6.00 into $5.50 and Full Speed Ahead $4.00 into $3.30.
Missed: Longfellow $2.00 into $1.80, Jigamaroo $4.00 into $3.60, Jakes A Joy $9.00 into $6.50, Kardesler $17 into $11 and Crackerjacks Judge $4.40 into $3.20.
Trial File
Launceston – Friday afternoon
Three trials were run before the race meeting held on Friday.
Alkatraz is a two-year-old colt prepared by Melissa Maine who led all the way to win the education trial in 2m 12.2s over stablemate Tisu Skye and trotter Bullapark Beno in 2m 12.2s.
The Marc Butler-trained two-year-old gelding Franko Joe scored in trial two. Rohan Hillier settled the pacer on the back of the leader before angling into the clear in the home straight to win under a nice hold in a mile rate of 2m 2.1s by a neck over Cover Boy Pretty and Kristal.
Live For Peace scored in the final trial of the session. The winner of 15-races was forced to race outside the leader early before ending up behind the leader. Troy McDonald didn’t ask the pacer for much in the run to the line where he defeated stablemate Popnduke by a narrow margin in 1m 59.8s.
Hobart – Sunday afternoon
Resurgent Rebel is a two-year-old filly that is prepared by Roger Whitmore that has won one of her two career starts. The daughter of Heston Blue Chip was able to find the lead to score by 4.9 metres over Hughie Playboy who ran an excellent second in 2m 3.7s for the mile trip.
After being placed in a Launceston trial on Friday, three-year-old Cover Boy Pretty was able to lead all the way and score by 4.9 metres in 2m 1.2s on Sunday. The unraced Hes Watching gelding is a half-brother to Tokyo Drift (14 wins) Our High Octane (49 wins, $473,456 prizemoney) and Buy Chevron Direct (17 wins).
The final trial was won by the last start Hobart winner Resurgent Storm who was able to lead before settling on the back of the leader at the 800-metre mark. Driver Rodney Ashwood eased the pacer back into the clear at the 400-metre mark where he was able to hold off a late challenge by Popnduke in 1m 59.9s.
Trial Replays
You can view most trials since the resumption from the COVID break by clicking here.
Week Ahead
Sunday night the Launceston Pacing Club will host a 10-event card that commences at 16:37.
The Elders Insurance Launceston Free For All isn’t in the top two highest prize-money races of the night despite having the best horses in the state contesting the race.
Ryley Major has drawn barrier six and is first-up since winning the Tasmania Cup in mid-March.
He clashes with Cool Water Paddy for the first time, who is having his third start at free-for-all level.
But the race may not be a race in two with Star Chamber, Illegal Immigrant, Call Me Hector and No Spring Secrets all racing well in recent weeks.
Race One on Sunday will be shown on Sky Racing 2 with the remainder on Sky Racing 1.
All races will be shown on TasracingTV.
Some Tasmanian pacers doing battle over the next few days at metropolitan venues include;
Ballarat – Saturday night
Race 1 Horse 8 Streitkid.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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