23 July 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
It was a tough night for punters in Launceston on Sunday night where four of the 10 winners started at double-figure odds on the program that was conducted on a rain-affected track.
On Monday Tasracing announced the 12 drivers that will compete in the upcoming BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series in Launceston late this month.
This week we race in Hobart on Friday night before heading back to Launceston on Sunday evening.
The Stars
Call Me Hector – caused an upset win in the Elders Insurance Free for All in Launceston on Sunday night. The Matthew Cooper-trained and driven pacer led all the way where he was able to record some slow early sections. Hector was able to outsprint his rivals that included Ryley Major in a fast last half-mile on a rain-affected track.
Shady Story – demolished his rivals in the Crown Lager Three-Year-Old. From inside of the second-row driver Ricky Duggan was able to get the Craig Van Dongen-trained pacer straight off the inside before racing outside of the leader for the final 1100 metres. Despite the mid-race work just after a torrential downpour, the gelding sprinted away late to score by 18.8 metres.
Debt Till We Part – registered back-to-back wins in the Ladbrokes Pace. Trainer-driver Paul Williams came from a long way back on the five-year-old Santastics Pan gelding to score at odds of $12. Debt Till We Part is building up a handy record this season winning two races and being runner-up on three occasions from eight starts.
Albayzin – on a night of upset winners, the Ray Pullen-trained pacer was the roughest of the night, although the official SP was $51, the gelding did start as much as $71 with some corporates. The gelding mapped very well to have a cheap run on the back of the race favourite, and that’s exactly what happened with reinsman Paul Ashwood getting the pacer into the clear at the top of the home straight to score.
Frankie Barker – is lucky to be alive, let alone winning races after almost dying as a foal. But the connections that had persisted with the four-year-old daughter of Alta Christiano were rewarded on Sunday when the mare broke through for her first win at start four with concession reinsman Ben Woodsford taking the drive for Brighton trainer Taylor Ford.
Multiple Winners
Launceston – Sunday evening
Ricky Duggan – driving double; Shady Story and Wattabout Spangher.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Illegal Immigrant 56.14s, Ryley Major 56.36s, Lockaway Kacie 56.59s. Outside of race seven; Kardesler 56.98s, Jeans Mattjesty 57.16s and Laid Back Kenny 57.25s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston – Sunday evening
Hit’s: Shady Story $3.70 into $3.30 and Armchair Drive $3.20 into $2.10.
Defied The Drift: Stormy Sanz $3.20 out to $4.80, Debt Till We Part $9.00 out to $12, Albayzin $15 out to $51, Wattabout Spangher $13 out to $26, Call Me Hector $7.50 out to $19, Laid Back Kenny $5.00 out to $9.00 and Frankie Barker $3.50 out to $4.80.
Missed: Kristal $31 into $8.50, Gauci $5.00 into $3.40, Christian Jaz $6.00 into $3.60, My Ultimate Romeo $5.00 into $3.80, Cracker Jacks Judge $2.70 into $2.10, Jakes A Joy $18 into $8.50, Kardesler $4.20 out to $2.80, My Celebrity $31 into $10 and Cinocal Jamane $8.00 into $6.00.
Trial File
Launceston – Sunday afternoon
Two trials were held prior to the race meeting in strong wind conditions.
The first was a rating 50 to 69 standing start event over 1680 metres.
It was won by the Conor Crook-trained and driven Stormont Star, who settled at the tail end of the field before racing outside the leader for the final lap from his 10-metre handicap.
The gelded son of For A Reason scored by a neck over Resurgent Storm and Aunty Bessy in a mile rate of 2m 1.7s, just one second outside of the 1680-metre standing start track record that is held by Koolaz Elvis.
The second trial was a rating 35 to 52 event where Spot Eight went straight to the early lead and proved too good for his rivals, scoring by 48.1 metres over Jimmy De Panda with Alkatraz, the first of the unraced horses to finish, a further 9.6 metres away third in 2m 2.3s.
Trial Replays
You can view most trials since 1 May by clicking here.
FORMPLUS Black Booker
He wasn’t hard to find when finishing fifth in race six on Sunday in Launceston. Punters were keen to jump on the six-year-old entire ($4.20 into $2.80) in the standing start event given some handy performances from poor barrier draws in three starts in the state and what looked to be an impressive standing start record.
He unfortunately galloped away and lost a lot of ground early to end up one-out and five-back after the completion of a lap before recording the quickest last half mile of the race in 56.98s on a rain-affected track, with several horses from the open class race of the night only running a faster last half mile than him.
You can make your own black book by logging into Tasracing.com.au in the top right-hand corner and follow the prompts to Formplus alerts, or follow myself as a Code Specialist.
Week Ahead
The Tasmanian Trotting Club stages an eight-race card on Friday night starting at 17:04.
The last race of the night is a rating 75 to 84 event over 2090 metres where Blackbird Power returns from a short let up.
The pacer was good in two runs back from the COVID shutdown before being well defeated in his last two outings.
His main dangers include Jaccka Len who is first-up since 29 March, Chasing Cheetahs, Finn Mac Kee and Reign Of Pain.
The Hobart card will be shown on Sky Racing 2 and TasracingTV.
Sunday in Launceston sees eight races set down for decision.
Race five on the night is a strong 70 to 79 event where we see the return of Scooterwillrev.
The Craig Hayes-trained pacer hasn’t been seen since finishing ninth at Menangle on 16 November, which was the conclusion of a 14-start campaign in the care of Paul Fitzpatrick.
The gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere is now back in the care of his original trainer Craig Hayes, and the pacer was ready to go in a heat of the Easter Cup earlier this year, but unfortunately Tasmanian racing was suspended just a few days prior due to COVID-19.
The race will be no easy task with many winning chances including Dapper Dana, Sea Double Ugrant, Salvator Mundi and Blackbird Power, just to name a few.
Race one is set down for 17:08 and will be shown on Sky Racing 1 and TasracingTV.
Some Tasmanian pacers doing battle over the next few days at metropolitan venues include;
Shepparton – Saturday night
Race 6 Horse 11 El Jays Mystery.
Menangle – Saturday night
Race 3 Horse 8 Harjeet,
Race 6 Horse 2 Ignatius,
Race 8 Horse 8 No Apachemee.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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