12 March 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Victorian trainer Dean Braun will be hoping for a big night in Hobart on Saturday night.
The popular trainer prepares the favourites in the Group 2 Tasmania Cup, George Johnson and Eric Reece Memorial, and the second elect in the Tasmania Oaks.
Willie Go West will start favourite in the Group 2 Tasmania Cup, and the pacer handled his rivals with ease when scoring in his Tasmania Cup heat on 28 February, which was the four-year-old’s fifth career win at his 10th racetrack appearance.
“We have thrown him in the deep end. Under the old system, he would only be a C3,” said Braun when speaking on RSN radio on Friday.
Last Sunday’s heat winner, Triple Eight, is the only other runner in single figures in early markets and has a 30-metre handicap to overcome, which Bruan will hope plays into his favour in the 2579-metre event.
“Triple Eight has been there and done it (at the top level) and is definitely the measuring stick, but I am pretty happy with my horse, he has had a really good week, and I would expect if he began good and jumped on the lure, it would make it hard for those out the back that have to do a bit of chasing and get around the field as well,” explained the trainer.
One of the best mares in the country at present is Our Princess Tiffany, and she will start a short-priced favourite in the states premier mares race, the George Johnson.
The multiple Group 1 winner became the 91st southern hemisphere-bred standardbred pacer to break $1,000,000 in prizemoney when scoring in the Group 1 Ladyship Cup at Melton two starts ago.
“I am sure she is the best horse in the race. She wouldn’t need any bad luck or anything like that,” said Braun.
The Art Major mare had a solo trial in Hobart on Sunday night.
“She has had an awesome week, I took her into Hobart on Sunday night and gave her a look at the track, and she ran a mile in 1m 58.3s and a half in 55.5s, and she only jogged it,” said the trainer.
Annerie will have her first start in the country when the former Kiwi lines up in the Group 3 Tasmanian Oaks.
“I have only had her 10-days, two weeks ago she was on the west coast of New Zealand, and she has had a trip to Christchurch, then to Auckland, then to Melbourne and then on to Tassie,” Braun explained.
“She poked around quietly in a trial on Sunday, and I was happy with what she did, but really I would love to have had another fortnight with her,” added the trainer who admitted it would be tough to beat last weeks Three Year Old Fillies Championship winner Momentslikethese.
Brauns other runner is Jaffa Josh in the Eric Reece Memorial Final, with the pacer scoring an effortless 19-metre win in his heat on 28 February at the pacers first start in Australia.
Chris Alford was booked to take the reins to drive all of the runners from the Braun stable but has been replaced by Anthony Butt.
Alford has undergone surgery for an infected knee during the week in a Melboune Hospital.
Tasracing’s Duncan Dornauf sent a text out to several drivers that have multiple drives on the card asking who their best chance was on the card.
Their replies are below;
Alex Ashwood – Race 11 Elita,
Conor Crook – Race 2 Guys Bettor Bet.
Ricky Duggan – Race 9 Helikaon,
Dylan Ford – Race 3 Guptas Cullen,
Rohan Hadley – Best place chance Race 4 My Ultimate Romeo,
Rohan Hillier – Race 6 Kosimo,
Troy McDonald – Race 1 Ozzie Major,
Todd Rattray – Best place chance Race 6 Kennys Killer,
Greg Sugars – Race 8 Momentslikethese,
Mark Yole – Race 3 Blackbird Power.
Sky Racing 2 will cover the first three races with the remainder of the card on Sky Racing 1, with Duncan Dornauf providing a late mail service for all races, as well as hosting TasracingTV’s live stream.
The local tote will have a $5,000 First Four Jackpot on the Tasmania Cup and the first race commences at 17:44.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
