19 January 2023 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
It was a great night of harness racing in Launceston last Saturday night, headlined by the Listed Hardings Hotmix Devonport Pacing Cup, which was taken out by Sunny Sanz who gave trainer Kent Rattray, and driver Gareth Rattray, their first wins in the time honoured race.
Last week we also welcomed two new participants with former driver Adam Rattray having his first start as a trainer in Launceston, while Jack Watson had his first race drive in Hobart on Sunday night.
We wish them all the best with their future endeavours in the industry.
Harness racing this week in the state sees three meetings with Hobart on Friday night, King Island on Saturday afternoon, and the Burnie Cup meeting on Sunday with a mid-afternoon start.
The Stars
Sunny Sanz – if a horse ever deserved a feature race win then it has to be Sunny Sanz, who claimed the Listed Devonport Cup in Launceston on Saturday night. He was a promising juvenile that has spent two one-year breaks on the sidelines through injury, and performed exceptionally well in last years Tasmania and Easter Cup. The win was the first in the race for his trainer Kent Rattray, and his nephew and driver Gareth Rattray who has spent 21 years trying to win the race after having his first drive in the feature as a 16-year-old in 2002.
Emma Stewart and Mark Pitt – ended their current Tasmanian stay with feature race wins including Major Grace (Mares Incentive), Idealrockidealroll (Coastal Pacing Thousand) and Where’s The Gold (Dash For Cash).
Todd Rattray – along with north-west coast owner-breeders Trevor and Marjorie Leis, kicked off the Launceston night in style winning with Kosygin Leis and Szabolski Leis.
Bronte Miller – last seasons’s leading female driver, drove her first treble in Hobart on Sunday night, all being short margins of 1.1m, a short-half-head and a half-head
Feats of the meet
Launceston, 14 January
Mark Pitt – five driving win,
Emma Stewart – four training wins,
Todd Rattray – training double,
Ben Yole – training double.
Kosygin Leis – $10,000 First win Tasbred bonus.
King Island, 14 January
Cambro Flash – Four-year-old gelding who is owned and bred on the Island won on debut, and collected half of his first win Tasbred bonus, he is eligible for his other half for his first win on mainland Tasmania.
Hobart, 15 January
Ben Yole – five training wins,
Bronte Miller – first driving treble,
Nathan Ford – driving double,
Allan McDonough – driving double.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Launceston, 14 January
Like A Wildfire 55.59s, Major Grace 55.80s, Miss Papenhuyzen 56.09s, Idealrockidealroll 56.40s and Wattabout Spangher 56.64s.
Hobart, 15 January
Wayonbye 57.69s, Classy Countess 58.11s, Cool Scooter 58.21s, Ranieri 58.29s and Longnwindingroad 58.30s.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston, 14 January
Hits: Kosygin Leis $5.50 into $3.60, Szabolski Leis $13 into $10, Major Grace $1.35 into $1.12, Sunny Sanz $21 into $10, One Off $6.00 into $5.00 and No Nukes Skipper $4.40 into $3.70.
Defied The Drift: Not one of the 10 winners drifted in betting.
Missed: Big Boy Mal $3.70 into $2.90, Stevie Jolt $18 into $9.50, Montana Storm $16 into $9.00, Mister Gently $2.00 into $1.75, Mach Angelo $18 into $7.50 and Kenya $4.20 into $3.80.
Hobart, 15 January
Hits: Smile Lyle $10 into $7.00.
Defied The Drift: Ranieri $7.00 out to $9.00, Queen Treacherie $1.20 into $1.30, Longnwindingroad $7.00 out to $10, Sapphire Gambler $3.10 out to $3.60, Smooth Deal $6.00 out to $7.00, Image Of Starzzz $6.50 out to $7.50 and Ozzie Major $12 out to $16.
Missed: To The Lookout $5.00 into $3.70, Fury Dan $26 into $12, The Democrat $14 into $7.50, Mach Angelo $6.50 into $4.00, Spot On $5.00 into $3.30, Don Heston $6.00 into $3.00, Hot Embers $8.00 into $6.50 and Ultimate Me $6.00 into $4.80.
Week Ahead
Friday: Harness racing in Hobart with a nine-race card from 17:58 On Sky Racing 2.
Saturday: Will be one of the biggest sporting events ever held on King Island with the Miners Rest Cup for the gallops, two harness events will be held on the day including the King Island Pacing Championship.
Two horses that are Tasmanian owned will tackle the Group 1 Ballarat Cup on Saturday night with Max Delight and Mach Dan.
Kosimo, who is Tasmanian owned and bred will also contest the second race at that program.
At Menangle, Tasmanian owned mare Bridwood Bella will be looking for back-to-back Menangle wins when she lines up in race seven, the former Rohan Hadley trained mare won impressively on Tuesday in 1m 53.5s.
Sunday: The Burnie Harness Racing Club will stage their biggest race, the 7BU Burnie Pacing Cup, which is race seven on a nine-race card that commences at 15:11 and will be split across Sky Racing 1 and 2.
Monday: Trials will be held at Carrick Park from 17:30.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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