23 March 2023 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
It was the state’s premier race night in Hobart on Saturday, with Wheres The Gold ending the run of locally trained horses to win the only Group 1 race in the island state.
There were many fantastic stories across the 10-race card.
This week we have two meetings, with Hobart on Friday night before the first heat of the Group 3 Easter Cup in Launceston on Sunday night, with the program also including the first two-year-old race in the state for the season.
The Stars
Emma Stewart and Mark Pitt– claimed more Tasmanian features in Hobart on Saturday, including the states premier race, the Tasmania Cup, with Wheres The Gold to give Emma her third win in the race and Mark his first. They also took out the state’s premier mares race, the George Johnson, with Major Grace.
Mark and Malcom Jones – the father-son duo teamed up for their biggest win when Biglittlesis raced away from her rivals to score in the Jane Ellen Final and record her third career win by 7.9m.
Leigh Rand – prepared Gethomeroy to score in the Sinbad Bay Final. Viewers on TasracingTV would have seen this pacer prepared in magnificent order pre-race, and the gelded son of For A Reason raced right up to those looks to score by 2.2m.
Jacob Duggan – drove a double on the state’s premier race night, scoring in the opening race with Lynryd Skynyrd before driving Wattabout Spangher to victory in the L.H.T Cup.
Ivan Belbin – also enjoyed success on the state’s premier night, preparing Eye See Double for his 14th career win in the Henry Pullen Memorial.
Feats of the meet
Hobart, 18 March
Emma Stewart – four training wins,
Mark Pitt – three driving wins,
Jacob Duggan – two driving wins
Launceston, 19 March
Ben Yole – three training wins,
Nathan Ford – two driving wins,
Todd Rattray – two driving wins.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Hobart, 18 March
Lynrud Skynyrd 55.64, Rocknovertime 55.92s, Puntarno Stride 56.24s, Where Ya Bin 56.59s and Hickstead 56.67s.
Launceston, 19 March
Beast Mode 56.84s, Mach Angelo 57.12s, Scotlynn Beach 57.64s, Ozzie Major 57.76s and Our Ruby Rose 57.78s.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart, 18 March
Hits: Lynrd Skynrd $4.20 into $3.70, Gethomeroy $6.00 into $4.80, Wattabout Spangher $7.50 into $7.00, and Wheres The Gold $1.65 into $1.50.
Defied The Drift: Eye See Double $9.50 out to $10, Major Grace $1.10 out to $1.24 and Anotherbigman $2.30 out to $2.60.
Missed: Forsaken Me $4.60 into $3.60, Gypsy Amour $4.60 into $4.00, Hes Apples $8.50 into $5.50, Miss Papenhuyzen $6.00 into $4.40 and Kick It To Jack $14 into $6.50.
Hobart, 19 Mach
Hits: Lalasa $8.00 into $4.00, Seal The Destiny $10 into $5.50, Deadly Assassin $19 into $14 and Fury Dan $4.80 into $3.40.
Defied The Drift: Slingshot $3.40 out to $3.60, Pacific Rock $3.60 out to $4.00 and Our Ruby Rose $4.80 out to $5.50.
Missed: Queenofdance $7.00 into $5.00, Vivid Stride $8.50 into $7.00, Christian Jazz $10 into $5.50 and Bee Seventeen $4.20 into $3.80.
Week Ahead
Friday: Eight races in Hobart from 17:24.
Saturday: Former Tasmanian pacer Lip Reader will line up in the first race at Melton, while Tasmanian-bred Zhukov Leis is engaged in the third race at Albion Park.
Sunday: Nine races in Launceston, including the first heat of the Group 3 Easter Cup and the first two-year-old race in the state for the 2023 season.
The racing starts at 17:51.
At Ouyen in north-western Victoria, Tasmanian-owned and bred Kosimo lines up in the cup.
Monday: Trials in Hobart from 17:30.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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