30 May 2024 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
It was a terrific night of racing in Launceston last Sunday, headlined by the Magician’s win in the Devonport Quality and the win of Southern Luck in the $30,000 Trainers Encouragement Series Final.
There were plenty of other features, including the DHRC Belmont, Latrobe Cup, Leigh Plunkett, and Sheffield Cup, with a strong crowd on track for the meeting.
This weekend, seven races will be held in Launceston on Friday night before a nine-race card in Hobart on Sunday evening.
The Stars
Magician – hadn’t won a sprint trip race until his victory in the Launceston Mile earlier this month, and he added the Devonport Quality to his resume in Launceston on Sunday with a tough win in 1:55.1s. The Todd Rattray-trained pacer was driven by his older brother, Gareth.
Danny Malone – claimed his biggest race win as a trainer, breeder and part-owner of Southern Luck, who proved too slick late to take out the $30,000 Trainer Encouragement Series Final. Malone and his stable supporters were all smiles after the win of the five-year-old gelding.
Mark Yole – took driving honours at Sunday’s meeting with a driving treble, including the Tasracing Leigh Plunkett with South Australian trained mare Im Themightylucy. His other winners included two-year-old filly Smooth Reason in the DHRC Belmont and Warrioress, who were both on debut.
Brodie Davis – continued his excellent form with another driving double and moved into third spot in the state junior drivers title. He scored aboard Major Davvin, who delivered a long-priced victory in the Sheffield Cup before driving Nil Desperandum to his second win of the season later in the night.
Mister Eagle – claimed the Latrobe Cup and, in doing so, completed a winning hat-trick, with all three wins coming since joining the Wayne Yole stable. The gelding has been driven by Kyle Pratten in all three races.
Feats of the meet
Launceston 26, May
Mark Yole – driving treble,
Brodie Davis – driving double.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Launceston 26, May
Im Themightylucy 56.45s, Kivik 56.79s, Magician 56.90s, Jo An Jo 57.00s, Smooth Reason and Nyack both 57.02s.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston 26, May
Hit’s: Smooth Reason $1.65 into $1.45, Warriors $21 into $12, Mista Eagle $19 into $14, Im Themightylucy $3.30 into $2.60, Major Davvin $151 into $91, Southern Luck $3.40 into $3.10, Magician $1.35 into $1.10, Donny In Paris $8.50 into $4.80, Nil Desperandum $11 into $6.00 and Ultimaction $2.70 into $2.46
Defied The Drift: No winner drifter across the 10-races.
Missed: Grimshaw Bay $31 into $15, Iden Kamikazi $14 into $9.50, Better Exclusive $21 into $6.00, Jo An Jo $3.00 into $2.10, Gordievsky Leis $151 into $41, Magomedov $4.40 into $2.80 and Bolt Of Cabargo $10 into $3.60.
Week Ahead
Friday: The Launceston Pacing Club stages an eight-race card from 17:20.
At Gloucester Park, part-Tasmanian-owned pacer Sweet Vivienne lines up in race seven.
Saturday: Trials at Carrick Park from 9:00 am.
Some runners racing interstate with a Tasmanian connection include:
Melton
Race 1 #10 Kosimo,
Race 3 #12 Dukes Choice.
Menangle
R5 #2 Max Delight.
Sunday: Harness racing in Hobart with nine races form 16.55.
Monday: Ignatius lines up at Harrah’s Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, while Lip Reader will contest a race at Northfield Park in Ohio, with that race to be shown on the Sky Racing Network.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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