01 February 2018 | Duncan Dornauf
The strength of Tasmanian Harness Racing was on display at the Mowbray Racing Centre in Launceston on Sunday evening.
Australasia’s fastest two-year-old from last season, Ignatius, remains undefeated in Tasmania when winning the opening race on the programme which was his last start in the state before continuing his New South Wales Derby preparation in Sydney. Last season’s Tasmanian Derby runner-up Harjeet was another dominant winner from the Todd Rattray stable showing that he will be a major player in the upcoming four-year-old classics during the season.
Call Her Julie appreciated a drop in class after contesting the Hobart and Devonport Pacing Cups and was a tough win in the C4-C5 Pace. While Isaac (pictured) and Gotta Go Henry proved they are horses to keep an eye on in upcoming races with dominant wins.
Heats of the Harry Holgate Memorial were also staged at the Launceston meeting with Super Max, El Jays Mystery and Sea Double Ugrant all recording dominant wins ensuring the final will be a race not to be missed on Sunday week.
This week Harness Racing kicks off at the Devonport Showgrounds on Friday evening with a combined meeting with the North West Greyhound Racing Club.
In Hobart on Sunday the $12,000 New Norfolk Pacing Cup headlines the seven-event program.
The Stars
Hillier Brothers – Rohan and Troy Hillier drove three of the nine winners between them at Launceston on Sunday evening. Troy was the first Hillier to get a win on the board when he trained and drove Gotta Go Henry to victory. Rohan then chimed in with a double aboard El Jays Mystery and Washmepockets who was having his first start in his care.
Matthew Cooper – does an excellent job with his small team and was rewarded with a dominant win by his honest mare Call Her Julie.
Juanita McKenzie and Rodney Ashwood – combined with Isaac who was first up from a spell to again continue their good form in recent months.
Tony Petersen – very rarely heads down the Midland Highway to his Mangalore base without going home empty-handed. On Sunday he went home with a heat of the Harry Holgate Memorial after the win of Super Max who was only having his second start since joining his stable.
King Island Racing Club – the curtain came down on another successful season for the KIRC. Graeme Keeleywas the leading trainer for the 2017/18 Season while Wayne Hamer was crowned the leading driver for the season.
Multiple Winners
King Island – Saturday
Graeme Keeley – training double; Princess Of Troy and Regmondo.
Launceston – Sunday
Todd Rattray – training and driving double; Ignatius and Harjeet.
Rohan Hillier – driving double; El Jays Mystery and Washmepockets.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action in Launceston on Sunday.
Sea Double Ugrant 55.63, Ignatius 56.41, Streetside Classic 56.47, Isaac 56.49 and Modern Ruler 56.57.
View all Tasmanian sectional data here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston
Hit: El Jays Mystery $4.00 into $3.20
Defied The Drift: Call Her Julie $5.50 out to $7.50
Missed: Major Callum $10 into $8.50
Trial File
Hobart on Monday
Recent free-for-all winner Remember Joe recorded the quickest mile rate of the night of 2:00.6 when winning a C2 and better class trial by 6-metres over Jaccka Art.
Other winners included recent winner Reason To Grin (2:09.1), Mister Lennox (2:03.9), Jackson Neptune (2:07.2), Ruby Mays Shadow (2:06.6) and Inner Light (2:08.3).
Devonport on Monday
Two trials were staged in Devonport with the winners being Flashy Ruler (2:10.7) and War Dan Star (2:06.8).
Week Ahead
It will be a feast for punters at the Devonport Showgrounds on Friday evening with 17-winners to be found. The North West Greyhound Club will stage an 8-event programme while the Devonport Harness Racing Club will stage a 9-race card.
There will be plenty of interest in the first heat of the time honoured Allen Williams Memorial final with five of the eleven acceptors finishing in second placing in there last two starts. Heats of the Allen Williams Memorial will be held across the state with $12,000 Final to be staged in Devonport on February 25.
In Hobart on Sunday the New Norfolk Pacing Cup headlines an excellent night of pacing where a number of past country cup winners will do battle in the $12,000 feature including; Full Speed Ahead who dead-heated for first in the St Marys Cup before winning the Scottsdale Cup, Hez The One who won the Burnie Cup two starts back, Fortino the winner of three country cups last season including the New Norfolk Cup.
Also contesting the race is last season’s Ulverstone Cup winner Poker Storm and 2016 Meander Valley Cup winner Modern Ruler.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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