28 June 2023 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
The Tasbred four-year-olds are on show in Hobart this Sunday evening, with preludes of the Raider Stakes and Granny Smith featuring across the nine-race card.
All horses engaged in both preludes can secure Tasracing’s slot for the $2,000,000 Eureka by winning the $80,000 Beautide in Hobart on the first Saturday in August.
This weekend’s meetings will be the last covered by The Examiner Newspaper’s racing writer, Greg Mansfield, who retires after 45-years.
I’m sure I can speak for all from the harness code in thanking him for his contribution and wish him all the best for his retirement.
Tasmanian-born drivers dominated the 11-race card at Mildura in north-western Victoria last Friday.
Alex Ashwood drove five winners and Jordan Leedham drove three.
Jordan Chibnall, who had spent plenty of time in the state in the past, also drove a winner on the day.
The Stars
Colby Sanz – the Kent Rattray-trained gelding recorded his third victory of the season after wins in the Burnie Cup and the Launceston Discretionary earlier in the year, when he led all the way after a brilliant beginning, to win the $20,000 Discretionary on Sunday.
Letsgobro – is a former Victorian who was well supported two starts ago when defeated by the narrowest of margins, but those that followed up again with the Geoff Smith-prepared pacer were rewarded when the gelding delivered a fast finishing sprint to record his sixth career win at start 10.
Melnrowley – after things didn’t go to script in the Granny Smith last November, trainer Craig Hayes sent the mare to the spelling paddock and she returned to the track on Sunday in the best way possible, recording her 10th career win at start 15 and in the process surpassed $100,000 stake money earnings.
Vincenzo – Vincent’s two-year-old gelded son broke through for his maiden win on Sunday when well-supported. Driver Jack Watson took the pacer straight to the lead and was able to cling on for a narrow victory when the gelding wanted to use plenty of the track in the home straight.
Feats of the meet
Launceston, 25 June
Rohan Hillier – two driving wins,
Gareth Rattray – two driving wins.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Launceston, 25 June
Letsgobro 55.95s, Magician 56.25, Baby You A Song 56.40s, Stepping Stones 56.44s and Mister Gently 56.46.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston, 25 June
Hit’s: Vincenzo $2.90 into $2.40, Baby You A Song $1.40 into $1.22, Letsgobro $10 into $8.00, Nyack $1.95 into $1.70.
Defied The Drift: Ideal Karalta $2.00 out to $3.60, Grizzly Montana $9.50 out to $13, Colby Sanz $26 out to $31 and Melnrowley $1.50 out to $2.20.
Missed: Thunder Sanz $3.80 into $2.90, Hez A Fake $14 into $6.50, Gobsmacked $9.50 out to $6.00, All By Myself $3.60 into $2.50, Theuglysister $5.00 into $3.00, Miss Papenhuyzen $2.20 into $1.50, Im Quite American $5.00 into $3.40 and Aha Reaction $7.00 into $3.50.
Week Ahead
Friday: Nine races in Launceston from 17:15.
Saturday: Tasmanian-owned or bred horses at metropolitan venues interest include.
Melton:
R5 – Khaki Nui,
R7 – Mach Dan,
R8 – Alwaysbealady,
R9 – Feel The Reign and Jeremy Wells.
Also, in the early morning hours, Ignatius lines up from the pole in the eighth race at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Sunday: Preludes of the Raider Stakes and the Granny Smith are the features of the nine-race Hobart card, as the countdown to the $80,000 Beautide on 5 August continues.
Monday: Trials from Hobart, commencing at 17:30.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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