Grass track racing is a bit of a rarity in Australia with Queensland and Tasmania holding the only grass track racing in this country.
On new Years day each year St Mary’s on the east coast of Tasmania holds its once a year meeting featuring the time honoured St Mary’s Cup.
This year it was taken out by in form pacer The Majority who made light work of his 20 metre handicap, it was The Majority’s third win from his last five outings.
The 6 year old son of leading sire Art Major is owned by his trainer Matthew Dywer in partnership with his wife Lauren.
Driven by in form reinsman Mark Yole, The Majority was able to make up his handicap of 20 metres too quickly and found the lead midway into the first lap of the race.
Yole drove another two winners on the program bookending the program with Shadow Anne a 4 year old mare (by Shadow Play) in race one and Puskin a 6 year old by Mach Three trained by his brother Ben.
Ben Yole trained a double his other winner was Johhnyart driven by Taylor Ford.
Mark Yole’s driving treble takes him to 26 wins and puts him 12 wins clear of Gareth Rattray who is currently sidelined with a finger injury.
Rattray who has won the drivers premiership for the past 10 years faces a mammoth task to reclaim the title.
Gareth’s bother Todd the other feature event, the $7000 Country Guineas, on Goggo Gee Gee.
Goggo Gee Gee sat outside the leader Its Gemmas Delight before scoring in a tight finish.
By Bettors Delight from the former super race mare Askalini a half sister to champion Beautide.
Carrick trainer Peter Dornauf won the inaugural running of the Trainers Encouragement Pace.
In a great inventive this race was open only to horses prepared by trainers who had not won a race this season and no more than two races last season.
Dornauf picked up the major end of the prize with four-year-old mare Mei Gei (by Village Jasper) and was driven by Alex Ashwood.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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