23 April 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Northdown trainer Geoff Smith has a tremendous strike rate on his local track in Devonport, and he will no doubt be hoping that continues on Friday’s seven-race card.
Smith has prepared 10 winners, and 14 placings from 58 starters on the coastal track over the past 12-months
He will take four runners to the track on Friday, with Aitutaki the first of his runners, stepping out in the second race of the night.
The gelded son of Ponder has been placed in three of his last four outings, the most recent was a second placing behind Yellow Taxi on the track two weeks ago, where he enjoyed a lovely run one-out and two-back before finding the spot outside the leader at the bell.
After fighting on well in the home straight to be first past the post, the gelding was stripped of the victory after a protest from the second placegetter against the winner was upheld for interference in the home straight.
Aitutaki started off the second-row on that occasion and will start there again in the 2297-metre event on Friday.
Smith has a two-prong attack in race three with Chris Be Quick and Laid Back Kenny.
Chris Be Quick, a gelded son of Art Major, has won two of his last three starts, with both victories being on the Devonport track.
He raced outside the leader last start over the 2297-metre trip before finding himself three-wide from the 300-metre point where he proved too strong late. He was driven that night by Hannah Van Dongen, who retains the drive again on Friday. She has driven the pacer in five of his nine wins to date.
Smith’s other runner in the race is Laid Back Kenny, who’s chances have taken a hit drawing outside of the front line.
The fourth contender from Smith’s stable is Devil Of Tyne in race four, with the pacer drawing two on the second-row as he chases his first win since winning at Carrick Park earlier in the year.
Friday’s meeting can be seen on TasracingTV and Sky Racing 2 from 17:34.
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