19 October 2017 | Duncan Dornauf
History was created last Sunday at Luxbet Park in Hobart when Shadow Storm and Rohan Hillier flew up the Roberts Bridgewater Sprint Lane to become the first combination to win. It was only the second meeting that the sprint lane had been in operation since being reintroduced. The previous sprint lane was removed from the Royal Hobart Showgrounds in the early 90’s.
One of our newly adopted locals, Destreos was inducted into the Queensland Harness Racing Hall of Fame on Sunday evening. Known around Ken Rattray’s stables as “Dexter”, the star pacer has brought a lot of positive social media attention to the local racing scene and is only four wins away from reaching a century of wins.
Like last week, a number of races in Launceston on Sunday are heats into finals for the horses that will be driven by Australia’s best drivers on Yabby Dam Racing Australian Drivers Championship night in Hobart on October 28.
The Stars
Ricky Duggan – drove two smart pacers to victory on Sunday in Hobart. His first win was aboard the well-supported debutante Streitkid for trainer Paul Hill. Duggan then partnered up with Juanita McKenzie to win with Jaks Teller.
Mark Yole – was rewarded with a win on Fernco Bobby G, who has been racing very well of late.
Ken Rattray – broke through for his first win since relocating back to Tasmania with Tuxedo Max in Devonport on Friday.
Ben Yole – once again dominated the weekend with six winners across the two meetings held in the state.
Black Booker
Flying Wingard
This Badlands Hanover entire was having his first start in the state since crossing Bass Straight to join the stables of Marc Butler. After drawing outside the front line driver Kristy Grant restrained the pacer back to the tail of the field. With a number of horses failing to improve theirposition over the final lap. Grant had to pull Flying Wingard out seven wide turning for home and the pacer let down with a fast finishing burst to finish in third position.
Watch the replay here
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action in Devonport on Friday.
Jeans Mattjesty 58.74, Im Born To Rule 59.30, Liv Lavish 59.56, Hafter 59.59, Heza Rummage 59.65.
Hobart on Sunday.
Devendra 56.10, The Dip 56.52, Fernco Bobby G 56.60. Outside of race six; Our Pacquiao 57.46, Flying Wingard and Full Speed Ahead 57.76.
View all Tasmanian sectional data here.
Trial File
Hobart on Sunday
Thatswhatshesaid was able to lead all the way to win the trial prior to Sunday’s race meeting. The Taylor Ford driven mare recorded a time of 2:00.0 for the 1609 metre trial. Watch the trial win here.
Carrick Park on Monday
Promising three-year-old Semowillrev made light work of his 3C0/C0 trial when he led all the way to win by a big margin in a mile rate of 2:01.2 for the 2150-metre event.
Other trial winners from the session were Jane Grant (2:08.8) and Buster William (2:04.4).
Week Ahead
Without a doubt the headline race in Launceston this Sunday will be the Impress Print Stakes which features Tasmania’s best pacers at present. Destreos is still searching for his first win in Tasmania and will no doubt be more suited to the mobile start conditions as will Devendra who recorded the quickest last half mile of the meeting in Hobart last Sunday.
Fernco Bobby G who won the discretionary in Hobart last Sunday has come up with barrier two, while Dapper Dana and Im Born To Rule who are both racing well without winning coming up with barriers one and three respectively. The Steve Davis trained Modern Ruler is first up since May and has not been seen at the trials this campaign.
The race is set down to be run at 20:33, with the first of nine races to get underway at 17:48.
Meanwhile one of the states Inter Dominion hopefuls Pachacuti will line up in a free-for-all at Menangle on Saturday Evening. Last season’s Tasmanian Horse of the Year has been transferred to the Sydney stables of James Rattray. Rattray has been enjoying a great run of success in recent weeks including a training double on Tuesday at Menangle with Tasmanian owned, Glenenise (1:53.6) and Tasmanian bred and owned, Rykov Leis (1:51.9).
Also on Saturday evening Tasmanian owned and bred Resurgent Spirit will be chasing his first win in Victoria when he lines up in the $30,000 Swan Hill Cup. If the emergency fails to gain a start the winner of over $194,000 will start from the pole position. He will be driven by former Tasmanian Alex Ashwood.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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