26 January 2022 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
It is hard to believe it has been six years since Neonjet (pictured) took out the last New Norfolk Cup held at Kensington Park, but the Tasmanian Trotting Club will continue the 26 January tradition of hosting what was the Derwent Valley’s premier race day with a seven-event card at the Ladbrokes Park Elwick on Wednesday.
The $14,000 Pauly’s Pizza New Norfolk Cup feature and has attracted a capacity field over the shorter 2579m trip from the traditional 3000m distance.
This years St. Marys Cup winner Rock On Playboy will start off the 30m handicap, courtesy of the five-point concession claim for in-form driver Jordan Chibnall.
The gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven sat one-out and one-back for a large portion of the race in his St Marys Cup win before sweeping to the lead down the side of course, to record a dominant win.
Prepared by Ben Yole, Rock On Playboy has had two starts since, including a fifth placing behind Lip Reader in the Devonport Cup and a fourth placing in a rating 75 to 105 event in Launceston on Sunday.
Rock On Playboy returns to Hobart, where he has built up an impressive record of three wins and one placing from four starts and is part of a strong contingent from the Yole stable that includes With Revenge, Rocks Roy, Oneofthelads, Where Ya Bin, Major Lester and emergency The Democrat.
Numerous horses in the race have strong winning claims, including the Tammy Langley-trained duo Wayonbye and Belle Of Brooklyn, the Juanita McKenzie-trained Helikaon and Kardesler, along with the Todd Rattray prepared Kuzma, also having strong winning claims.
The Hobart meeting is a part of Tasracing’s FORMPLUS Tipping Summer Series, where there is $500 up for grabs and a spot in the Grand Final on Launceston Thoroughbred Cup day, where you can score the grand prize of $5,000.
A bonus episode of the Harness Highlights podcast centring on Wednesday’s meeting is available to subscribers via Spotify and Apple podcasts.
Matt Reid will be trackside to live host Wednesday’s meeting on TasracingTV, with the meeting also being telecast on Sky Racing 2, with the opening race set down for 15:19.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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