12 February 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
It was a big week of Tasmanian harness racing from Launceston last Friday to the big stage at Melton last Saturday night.
This week we have racing at Carrick Park and Hobart, with some of our local stars also racing interstate.
If that wasn’t enough, Saturday also sees the 2020 Tasmanian Harness Racing Yearling Sale.
The Stars
Rohan Hadley – was in-form in Launceston with a driving double, scoring in the feature, the Launceston Discretionary aboard Four Starzz Shark gelding Sea Double Ugrant, while he partnered Aussie Rock to victory earlier in the night to her fourth win in a row.
Conor Crook – drove a treble on the card including Lord Stark and Denwen Dancer (pictured) who both made it back-to-back wins, Crook also drove Ozzie Major who was well supported in the opening race.
Better Amour – bounced back to her best for trainer Paul Carlson with a dominant win in the 1680-metre event. The mare was severely checked near the 600-metre mark, but driver Barrie Rattray didn’t panic and was able to circle the field to record the mares third career win.
Kikkimi – registered her second career win for trainer Ronald Eeles with a dominant 11.1-metre win in the final race of the Launceston card.
Max Delight – bounced back to his best in a Group 3 race at Melton on Saturday night, the five-year-old entire and former Tasmanian horse of the year was having his second start back from an enforced lay off.
Multiple Winners
Launceston – Friday evening
Ben Yole – training treble; Ozzie Major, Postal Run and Tarleton Riley.
Conor Crook – driving treble; Ozzie Major, Lord Stark and Denwen Dancer,
Troy McDonald – driving double; Postal Run and Tarleton Riley,
Rohan Hadley – driving double; Aussie Rock and Sea Double Ugrant.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Launceston – Friday evening
Buster William 56.29s, Lip Reader 56.60s, Sea Double Ugrant 56.69s, Reign Of Pain 56.80s, Believe In Forever and Lockaway Kacie both 57.11s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston – Friday evening
Hit’s: Ozzie Major $5.50 into $4.80, Postal Run $9.00 into $8.00, Lord Stark $7.50 into $6.00 and Tarleton Riley $4.20 into $3.00.
Defied The Drift: Aussie Rock $1.85 out to $2.50, Better Amour $3.40 out to $5.00, Resurgent Storm $3.40 out to $4.20, Kikkimi $3.10 out to $4.60.
Missed: Major Davvin $9.00 into $5.50, Southern Gnp $9.00 into $6.50, Brighton Prince $19 into $9.00, Mozasu $6.00 into $3.70, Izaha $5.00 into $3.60, Ideal Joe $11 into $6.50.
Trial File
Carrick Park – Monday afternoon
Two trials were staged with the opening trial for qualifying horses over 1609 metres with a rating of 44 or better.
Mighty Spark was the only runner on the mobile at the release point and was taken straight to the lead by reinsman Andrew Freeman to go on and score a six-metre victory over Gee Em Jamane in a time of 2m 8.1s for the 1609-metre trip.
The second trial was over the 2150-metre journey for horses with a national rating of 44 or better which was won by the Kent Rattray-trained Jimi Sanz.
Driver John Walters took the four-year-old gelding back to the tail of the five-horse field before taking up a one-out two-back position over the final lap before improving out three-wide over the final 400 metres to prove too quick for his rivals late in a mile rate of 2m 9.3s.
You can view the trials held on mainland Tasmania by clicking here.
Week Ahead
Friday: Ryley Major, who is now trained by Adam Kelly, will contest the Group 3 Ararat Pacing Cup at 21:22.
Saturday: Carrick Park Pacing Cup day with the first of seven races commencing at 15:50. There will be no off-track wagering or telecast (including Tasracing’s Live Stream) of the meeting. However the club has organised coverage on City Park Radio which is broadcast on 103.7fm and 96.5fm in Launceston and surrounding areas and online at cityparkradio.com.
The Tasmanian Harness Racing Yearling Sale will be held between races six and seven.
Ignatius has returned to New South Wales and will race at Menangle in race two which is scheduled for 19:19.
Sunday: Hobart is the venue for a nine-race card that commences at 17:17. Race one will be shown on Sky Racing 2 with the remainder of the card on Sky Racing 1. All races will be live-streamed on TasracingTV.
Monday: Trials will be held in Hobart and Devonport with both sessions to commence at 17:30.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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