28 December 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Leading driver Ricky Duggan proved once again why he is in the Tasmanian harness racing Hall of Fame when he took out Sunday’s Maxfield Drilling Meander Valley Cup at Carrick Park, aboard the Juanita McKenzie-trained Kardesler.
The $3.30 favourite began well off his 10-metre handicap to find the lead soon after the start, and from there the six-year-old American Ideal entire was never in doubt going on to score by 7.5 metres over Believe In Forever and Feel The Burn.
The mile rate was recorded in 2m 03.5s, which is just one second outside the track record.
“He pinged away pretty good, and I didn’t think Feel the Burn would want to get into a hustle and bustle with us so once I pushed on to the front, he was able to jog around them,” said reinsman Ricky Duggan after the win.
Kardesler has now won 11 of his 42 starts this season, with the pacer arriving in the Juanita McKenzie stable in June.
“Juanita (McKenzie) has done a good job with him, and the horse has done a great job to back up week in week out at his last few starts, where he has always been around the placings earning a cheque,” explained Duggan.
Connections will now press on to many country cup races going forward, and they have many options in January, with the Devonport Pacing Cup the top of the winning trainers list.
The Juanita McKenzie – Ricky Duggan combination kicked off the day on a winning note with Helikaon who sled all the way in the Shane McHenry Memorial.
Helikaon, a two-year-old gelding by Rock N Roll Heaven used the pole draw to full advantage to lead all the way and score by nine-metres at odds of $1.30.
They also tasted success in the Pfeiffer Cranes Pace when Sharmey came from back in the field to score a very easy win, which was the pacers fourth victory in a row.
The Rock N Roll Gelding was sent out as the $1.40 favourite despite his outside of the front-row draw.
McKenzie indicated both horses would be aimed at the Tasmanian Derby in March, with Sharmey likely to have a preparation in Victoria before that.
Trainer-driver Todd Rattray went home with a double after Lalasa, a two-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight scored on debut, while stable mate Kadar took out the Cressy Transport Tasmanian Country Championship after he enjoyed a lovely three-wide cart into the race.
The 1670-metre track record was broken in race two when Pink Ponder scored in a mile rate of 1m 57.8s, taking half a second off the previous record held by Peaceful Thomas.
Rohan Hillier joined Conor Crook at the top of the state’s drivers title when he took out the Bramich Bulldozing Trainers Incentive Pace on the Kate MacLeod trained Machbev.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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