27 December 2022 | Duncan Dornauf
Leading trainer Ben Yole will play a strong hand in Tuesday night’s $12,000 North West Plate Final, which headlines the eight-race card in Burnie.
Headlining Yole’s contenders are Kolovos and Oneofthelads (pictured), both heat winners from the Burnie Harness Racing Club’s last meeting on 16 December.
“They have both drawn well,” said Yole.
Kolovos has drawn two in the 2180m event.
“He was an expensive New Zealand import that has had several starts in Victoria, we picked him up along the same lines as Kenya and Arden Roanoke, and we have a good opinion of him,” said Yole.
The Bettors Delight gelding has had two starts in Yole’s care.
“He was good first up and was then very good in his heat, and I think he will benefit from those runs,” the trainer said, with his brother Mark taking the drive.
Oneofthelads recorded the slowest time of the two heats and drew barrier three in Tuesday’s race.
“He is a small track specialist and a good standing start horse.
“He should be up on the speed and should be hard to beat,” said the trainer.
The winner of 18 races will be driven by Mitch Ford, who holds a five-win lead over Mark Yole on the state’s drivers title, with two meetings to go.
If there was to be a blow-out from Yole’s remaining runners, it could come by Smooth Deal, who has drawn the pole.
“He was good in his heat, he steps well and should be close to the speed, and he should run top three or four,” the trainer said.
The North West Plate is race five on the card, with the opening event scheduled for 18:07, with the meeting to be shown on Sky Racing 1 and TasracingTV.
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