29 December 2023 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Tasmanian harness racing heads to the country this weekend with three meetings.
The King Island Racing Club host their cup meeting on Sunday afternoon, while Carrick Park will host a twilight meeting with nine races.
Monday, harness racing returns to the east coast with the St Marys Pacing Cup, which returns home after being held at Carrick in 2023.
All premierships are clear-cut going into the last meetings of the season. The only premiership watch is to see if driver Mark Yole can record his 100th season win. He goes into the Carrick Park meeting on 98 season wins.
The Stars
Tammy Langley – continued her excellent end to the season, claiming last week’s feature race, the North West Plate Final with Impulze, along with wins in Hobart with Iylac Pakaria and another training double on King Island.
Stepping Stones – appreciated a drop in class to record a 17.3m win in a rating 60 to 74 event in Hobart on Friday night, her fourth win of the season.
Villacci – appreciated a return to mobile start racing to record a 10.3m win in the fast class race in Hobart. The win was the gelding’s eighth of the season.
Bold Centurian – is another that has had an outstanding season. The pacer has won seven races, with six wins coming this term after leading all the way to win over the 2500m at Burnie.
Feats of the meet
Hobart, 22 December
Ben Yole – five training wins,
Mitch Ford – three driving wins,
Nathan Ford – two driving wins
King Island, 26 December
Tammy Langley – two training wins,
Dylan Ford – two driving wins.
Burnie, 27 December
Ben Yole – three training wins,
Nathan Ford – two driving wins.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Hobart, 22 December
Check In 56.65s, Stepping Stones 56.89s, Villacci 57.30s, The Shallows 57.45s and Puntarno Stride 57.75s.
Burnie, 27 December
Our Ruby Rose 58.35s, Major Mucha 58.50s, Major Generaljujon 58.55s, Mr Kiwi 58.70s and Velocity Stride 59.01s.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart, 22 December
Hit’s: Halep Leis $6.00 into $5.00, Somedan $26 into $20, Gypsy About $4.40 into $3.60, Turquoise Stride $6.50 into $6.00, Villacci $2.50 into $2.35, Judes My Life $8.00 into $4.00, Lalibela $7.00 into $5.50 and Major Lester $9.50 into $8.50.
Defied The Drift: Iylac Pakaria $1.80 out to $2.10 and Stepping Stones $1.85 out to $2.00.
Missed: Sportzsilk $2.70 into $2.35, Sweet Amour $4.40 into $3.50, Moneys No Issue $4.40 into $3.50, Beyonski $4.80 into $3.30, Rockandahardplace $11 into $6.00, Lil Rapper $3.30 into $2.45, Spooky Girl $15 into $6.50 and Grinning Again $3.40 into $1.60.
Burnie, 27 December
Hit’s: Bold Centurian $9.50 into $7.00, Alberio $2.40 into $1.40 and Scarlet Place $2.90 into $1.70.
Defied The Drift: Major Mucha $3.30 out to $5.50, Going Great Guns $9.00 out to $12, Impulze $2.70 out to $3.20 and What Good Reason $2.80 out to $3.60.
Missed: Major Generaljujon $5.00 into $3.20, Deadly Assassin $31 into $7.00, Lord Verde $6.50 into $3.00, Upsize Me $5.00 into $2.40, Smile Lyle $14 into $7.50, No Nukes Skipper $5.00 into $3.30 and Rambunctious $6.00 into $3.80.
Week Ahead
Saturday: Interstate runners at interstate metropolitan venues include:
Bendigo
R1 #6 Kosimo,
R6 #10 Believe In Forever.
Sunday: Nine races at Carrick Park from 15:04 featuring the Cressy Transport Tasmanian Country Championship.
A non-TAB dual code meeting at King Island featuring the Carlton & United Breweries King Island Pacing Cup which is scheduled to start at 14:45.
At Melton, the eight-race Young Guns series will be conducted, featuring Tasmanian-born Ford drivers Jack Laugher, Ryan Backhouse and Jordan Leedham, and Jordan Chibnall, who spent many seasons driving in the state.
Monday: Seven races at St Marys from 13.00, featuring the St Marys Pacing Cup and the 6ty Country Guineas. Despite being called the Guineas, there is no three-year-old in the race.
There will be no off-track broadcast or betting as the meeting is non-TAB.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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