10 February 2023 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
The 2023 Devonport Harness Racing Club Patrons Marathon is the headline race of Friday night’s eight-race Burnie card.
Two horses that filled the minor placings behind Tisu Spirit in last year’s race (held in Launceston following the Devonport Showgrounds closure), Mister Gently and Kuyomi are back for another tilt at the 2500m event.
Mister Gently has drawn the outside of the front row for local trainer-driver Craig Hayes.
The now seven-year-old gelding has won four of six starts on the Burnie track, which includes the 2022 and 2021 Burnie Cup, and finished an unlucky fifth in this years running when only getting clear late.
The Rohan Hillier-trained and driven Kuyomi will be second-up from a spell in Friday’s race.
She has had two starts on the Burnie track, both efforts have been second placings in the past two runnings of the Burnie Cup.
Her first-up effort, she was runner-up to Colby Sanz, where she settled leaders back and didn’t get much clear racing room until late.
The Bettors Delight mare missed a start last Sunday when the emergency in last week’s Meander Valley Cup.
Leading trainer Ben Yole is well represented in the race, with Check In and Duke Of Dundee leading his chances.
Recent Patrons Marathon winners are:
- 2022 Tisu Spirit
- 2021 Earl Jujon
- 2020 Not held due to Covid
- 2019 Ideal Bliss,
2018 Harjeet - 2017 Chief Destroyer.
The other highlight of the Burnie card is the North West Tasmanian Light Harness Association Mares Feature for the rating 50 to 69 mares, where Juniper faces the 20m back mark in the 2180m event.
Her stablemate Machs Mareta will be looking to go one placing better after chasing home Nine Diamonds in last year’s running of the race.
Friday’s Burnie card celebrates 11 years to the day of Burnie Harness Racing Club meetings being telecast on Sky Racing, and commences at 17:19 and can be seen on Sky Racing 2 and TasracingTV.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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