21 June 2024 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Punters were on the ball in Launceston on Friday night, with five of the eight favourites winning and seven of the eight winners all firming on the Tasmanian Official Price.
In Hobart, four of the nine favourites scored on the nine-race card, with punters again hitting the mark, and six winners started shorter than their opening quote.
This weekend, Launceston will host the sole meeting of the week with a 10-race card.
The Stars
Allan McDonough – continued his winning run in the sulky with a driving treble. He claimed the two feature races, the Hobart Belmont with Beach Diamond and the Sires Produce with Best Deal for Victorian trainer Clayton Tonkin before winning aboard Blitzern, who McDonough also trains, making amends for favourite punters after his defeat in Launceston the start prior.
Jack Watson – claimed his first driving double on the Hobart card, teaming up with his mother Juanita McKenzie, to score with Vincenzo, who is on track for the upcoming three-year-old features, and Jack James, who recorded an overdue win.
Keayang Fitzy – has done an excellent job since crossing Bass Strait. The Sportswriter gelding won his fourth race in the state in Hobart on Sunday night and has finished no further back than second since being in Tasmania, and there looks to be plenty more wins in store.
Rohan Hillier – extended his lead at the top of the state drivers title in Launceston with a driving treble, including the win of the Paul Ashwood-trained three-year-old filly Lets Go Lucylou, who remains undefeated after three starts. Hillier also drove his 550th winner later in the night.
Feats of the meet
Launceston 14, June
Rohan Hillier – driving treble,
Brodie Davis – driving treble,
Todd Rattray – driving double,
Michael Laugher – training double.
Hobart 16, June
Allan McDonough – driving treble,
Jack Watson – driving double,
Juanita McKenzie -training double,
Clayton Tonkin – training double.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Launceston 14, June
Royal Reactor 57.11s, Scarlet Place 57.52s, Machs Mareta 57.53s, My Ultimate Romeo 57.58s and Lets Go Lucylou 57.60s.
Hobart 16, June
Best Deal 56.00s, Just Tiger 56.33s, Keayang Fitzy 56.80s, Octaganoise 57.07s and Blitzern 57.20s.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston 14, June
Hit’s: Lets Go Lucylou $1.80 into $1.50, Kiwi Tilly $91 into $31, Emjays Black Chip $4.40 into $2.00, Hunt A Rainbow $.90 into $1.80, My Ultimate Romeo $2.25 into $1.40, Horrie Otara $10 into $6.50 and Artyboy Glenwood $6.00 into $4.00.
Defied The Drift: Art Huntsman $1.24 out to $1.30.
Missed: Indianna Sanz $151 into $26, OBLER $3.00 into $2.20, More THan THis $21 into $7.00, Scrub Basher $21 into $7.50, Napattack Sam $1.85 into $1.40 and Im Quite American $101 into $26.
Hobart 16, June
Hit’s: Beach Diamond $1.10 into $1.07, Best Deal $1.06 into $1.05, Vincenzo $1.70 into $1.35, Jack James $12 into $6.50, Mista Eagle $3.30 into $2.50 and Sharkattack $26 into $16.
Defied The Drift: Keayang Fitzy $1.80 out to $2.00, Eye See Double $7.00 out to $9.00 and Blitzern $1.06 out to $1.16.
Missed: Just Tiger $2.05 into $1.70, Firecracker Nola $3.70 into $3.10, Sapphire Gambler $19 into $6.50, Kenya $4.80 into $3.90, Lynryd Skynryd $13 into $11, Kuzma $51 into $21, Rockandahardplace $17 into $14, Will He Pike $4.20 into $2.45 and Mister Finnigan $14 into $7.50.
Week Ahead
Friday: At Gloucester Park in Perth, Sweet Vivienne, part-Tasmanian owned lines up in race five.
Saturday: Some runners racing interstate with a Tasmanian connection include:
Melton
Race 1 #9 Mach Dan,
Race 2 #11 Kosimo,
Race 7 #12 Dukes Choice.
Globe Derby
Race 5 #1 Get Lucky.
Sunday: Harness racing in Launceston with 10 races from 16:55 featuring the year’s second running of the $20,000 Launceston Discretionary.
Monday: Trials in Hobart from 17:30.
Earlier in the day Lip Reader will line up at Tioga Downs in New York.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
