17 February 2023 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Wesley Vale-based trainer John Castles will be taking a two-prong attack to the first heat of the 2023 Jane Ellen in Launceston on Friday night.
Huntsville filly Moth Hunter has opened as the early favourite, as the mare returns to the track for the first time since finishing third in the first heat of the Evicus in mid-November.
“She had a virus, and we had to scratch her from the final and we put her out after that,” said her trainer John Castles.
The filly has been placed in two recent trials, the most recent at Carrick Park on Monday evening.
“Her first trial in Burnie, she went ok but showed she needed another one, so we took her to Carrick a week later and we thought she went better and was right to race.
“I think she will run well on Friday, I’m not saying she will win, but she is a definite chance,” the trainer explained.
Rohan Hillier will take the reins for the first time on Friday night, as regular driver Charlie Castles will drive stablemate, Czarina, a mare that he part-owns.
The daughter of Sutter Hanover has drawn inside of Moth Hunter, in barrier two and will be second-up from a break.
The filly was runner-up on debut in mid-September, with the trainer slightly disappointed with her recent racing.
“She has been a bit disappointing, and we are looking for improvement out of her.
“When she first trialled, we were pretty happy, but she has never really gone on with it for whatever reason, but we haven’t given up faith in her yet,” said John.
It will be the second edition of the Jane Ellen, which is a no more than two-lifetime win Tasbred series restricted for the fillies, with the colts and geldings contesting the Sinbad Bay, which also commences on the Launceston card, where the Todd Rattray-trained and driven pacer Maebee will start the race favourite.
Further heats of both series will be held in Hobart on 5 March and at Carrick Park on 12 March, with the $20,000 finals to be held in Hobart on Tasmania Cup night on 18 March.
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