31 October 2022 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Heston Blue Chip mare Forgot The Wallet stamped herself as a strong contender for the Collins Homes Granny Smith Final, with a 4.1m win in the second and final heat in Hobart on Sunday night.
Although the mare almost ruined her chances early in the race.
The Rodney Ashwood-trained pacer broke soon after the start, with reinsman Ricky Duggan quickly getting the mare down and pacing.
“That is probably the first time she has messed up in her racing career. I think she was just a bit above herself,” said Ashwood post-race.
Settling one-out and four-back off a slow lead time of 36.1s and a sedate first half of 64.1s, that was always going to make it hard for those back in the field to make ground.
Forgot The Wallet was forced to lead up the three-wide line from the 750m and showed a brilliant will to win late in closing sections of 29.1s and 28.9s.
The mile rate was 2m 1.8s for 2090m.
Ashwood went into the race concerned with the wide draw but was happy with how the mare had been performing.
“Last week, she went well. She just couldn’t get a run at them, she ended up running seventh, but that’s racing,” he said.
Forgot The Wallet is owned and bred by Raymond Saltmarsh, Brenda Saltmarsh and Betty Quinn, who have been patient with the mare.
“She hasn’t been over raced. She was a bit headstrong at two and didn’t race.
As a result of the mares’ manners early in the event, stewards placed the mare out of the draw.
The first six-placegetters from the heat qualify for the $60,000 Group 2 Final in Launceston on 13 November.
“They are all equal.
“Whoever gets the best run will be hard to beat,” said Ashwood in regard to the opposition that awaits them.
Tasfreight Raider Stakes Heat Two
After failing to complete the course with broken gear in the opening heat in Launceston seven days earlier, Lancelot was back in the winner’s list in the second heat.
Trainer-driver Todd Rattray pushed forward on the $2.30 favourite to find the lead soon after the start, with the Roll With Joe gelding having an untroubled run in the lead until challenged up the sprint lane by Rocknovertime with 1.3m between the duo at the business end of the race.
The mile rating of 1m 59.5s was quicker than last week’s heat won by Longfellow.
Nutrein Ag Solutions Globe Derby Heat Two
It was another winner for the Todd Rattray stable when Magician won his fourth race of the season.
Driven by Todd’s brother Gareth, the $2.20 favourite was taken straight to the lead and was able to dictate affairs.
The Sweet Lou gelding held off the stablemate Mucho Mover late by 2.6m.
Again the mile rate of 2m 0.3s was quicker than the heat the week prior.
6ty° Bandbox Heat Two
Another favourite home, this time in the way of the Paul Ashwood-trained Baby You A Song.
The daughter of Sweet Lou was taken straight to the lead by driver Rohan Hillier, who also owns and bred the filly with his wife Katrina.
After quarters of 31.4s and 31.3s, Hillier upped the tempo on the $1.20 favourite in quarters of 28.5s and 30.5s, holding off the late challenge by Mays Place in the home straight.
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