Finals night in Hobart this Saturday

A bumper 10-race card in Hobart on Saturday night kicks off what promises to be a brilliant Spring for Tasmanian harness racing with several feature races scheduled over the upcoming months.

The meeting features the $26,000 Two-Year-Old Sweepstakes Finals, the Metropolitan Cup, and several $20,000 Finals that are restricted for Tasmanian Trained pacers on the card.

Colts & Geldings Sweepstakes Final

Karalta Artemis will be looking to give his trainer Kent Rattray his second win in the race in as many years.

The gelded son of Huntsville was sent out the $1.20 favourite in his heat on 16 August but paced roughly and broke stride during the race when finishing 6.8m behind Nyack, and as a result of his manners, he was sent back to the trials to re-qualify.

He did that when winning a Carrick Park trial on 27 August, where he scored in a mile rate of 2m 1.1s.

“It was a good trial, and they ran a bit of time, and he had a bit up his sleeve,” said reinsman Gareth Rattray.

“We are hopeful he will run a good race,” added Gareth, who has driven six Sweepstakes winners in his career in the sulky.

Fillies Sweepstakes Final

Iylac Pakaria will be looking to remain undefeated in the Fillies Final, where she lines up from barrier two.

The daughter of Betting Line used the sprint lane to score a half-head victory in her heat on 21 August.

“Her heat win was really good considering the work she had going into it. She got a little bug after her Launceston win, so we played it a bit cautious,” said trainer Bianca Heenan.

“She has come through the run really well and has trained on super since that win, her last bit of work was the best she has worked, so it has been positive signs.

“I think from the draw Mitch (Ford, driver) holds a few of the aces so it will be up to him whether he pushes to the front early or not. She will run the gate and be a much sharper horse this week,” explained Heenan.

Metropolitan Cup

First run in 1939, the race is older than the Tasmania Cup, and it features the who’s who of Tasmanian harness racing, and several outstanding pacers from across the nation have also tasted success in the race.

The Todd Rattray-trained and driven Harjeet will be looking to become the first horse to win the race on two occasions since Good Town, who won in 1990 and again 1993.

Harjeet, the 2019 winner, has had three starts back from an injury enforced break, including a win over most of his rivals in Hobart on 16 August.

Saturday’s 10-race card commences at 18:06 and will be shown across the Sky Racing Network and an extended coverage on TasracingTV.

It has already been announced that this race meeting in 2023 will also feature the Tasmanian Derby and Oaks.