When Ryley Major led all the way in the Tasmanian Derby he wrote is name alongside his dam the Group 1 winner Shez Ryleymak who won the Vicbred Final at 2 and went on to win the Tasmanian Oaks the following year.
Shez Ryleymak won 23 times and 16 placings from 50 starts and $270,688 in stakes for trainer Rohan Hiller.
Shez Ryleymak created when she was named Tasmanian Horse of the Year as 2 and 3 year old.
Hiller and his wife Katrina bred Ryley Major and offered him in the sale 2014b Tasmanian Yearling sale but failed to make the reserve.
Hiller had no issue taking the son of Art Major back to his Beauty Point property and preparing him for the racetrack.
As a 2yo he won the Sales Classic and one other race but as a 3 year old he has come back much bigger and stronger and is now unbeaten in 5 starts as a 3 year old.
The Tasmania Derby was first held in Launceston in 1927, but moved to Hobart in 1965.The race has been won by many champion pacers down the years. The West Australian pacer Mon Poppy Day set a race record of 1:58.9 rate (2360 metres) in 1996 on the Royal Showgrounds.
Since the distance has been increased to 2579 metres, the champion juvenile Lombo Pocket Watch holds the record of a 1:59.8 rate when he scored in 2007.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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