31 December 2020 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
The 2019-2020 Tasmanian Drivers Premiership went right down to the line with Gareth Rattray being able to secure his 11th title in the second last race of the season in Devonport on Tuesday night.
Kardesler delivered another Country Cup for Juanita McKenzie and Ricky Duggan with an effortless win in the Meander Valley Cup at Carrick Park on Sunday.
It was weekend of track records, Frankie Falzoni shaved 2.1s off the 1680-metre mobile start track record at King Island on Saturday while Pink Ponder secured the 1670-metre track record at Carrick Park on Sunday in 1m 57.8s, taking 0.5s off the previous record.
This weekend we see many Tasmanians represented on a bumper night of racing at Melton on Thursday night where 12 Group 1 races will be held.
The attention turns to the Hobart Pacing Cup on Sunday night, the day before that will see the 2021 running of the King Island Pacing Cup.
The Stars
Gareth Rattray – went into Tuesday’s Devonport meeting one win off the leading duo on the states drivers title and came out of it with a two-win victory to secure his 11th driver’s title, his first since the 2014-2015 season.
Kardesler – took a progressive step to next month’s Devonport Pacing Cup with an effortless 7.5-metre win in Sunday’s Meander Valley Cup at Carrick Park, which was the American Ideal entires 11th win of the season.
McKenzie – Duggan combo – not only did they taste success with Kardesler but they walked away with a treble on the card after the wins of two-year-old pacers Helikaon and Sharmey, with both horses to be aimed at the Tasmanian Derby in March.
Machbev – took out the Trainers Incentive Final which saw winning trainer Kate MacLeod take home a new race sulky with the win. The three-year-old filly has won three of her seven starts this season and was handled by Rohan Hillier.
Karalta Kruise – completed a winning hat-trick on King Island on Saturday. The John Rhodes-trained pacer was driven by concession reinsman Wade Rattray and the six-year-old gelding will start favourite in Saturdays King Island Pacing Cup.
Multiple Winners
Carrick Park – Sunday afternoon
Juanita McKenzie – training treble; Helikaon, Kardesler and Sharmey,
Ricky Duggan – driving treble; Helikaon, Kardesler and Sharmey,
Todd Rattray – training and driving double; Lalasa and Kadar,
Ben Yole – training double; Pink Ponder and Tarleton Riley,
Mark Yole – driving double; Pink Ponder and Black Ops.
Devonport – Tuesday evening
Ben Yole – training quintet ; Weerrook Harry, Tarleton Riley, Life A Jungle, Mach Charm and Karalta Dazzler,
Gareth Rattray – driving treble; Tarleton Riley, Mach Charm and Karalta Dazzler,
Dylan Ford – driving double; Say A Prayer and Arakbell.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Carrick Park – Sunday afternoon
Wandary Muscat 56.79s, Tarleton Riley 57.07s, Proficient 57.18s, Laid Back Kenny 57.19s and Salvator Mundi 57.22s.
Devonport – Tuesday evening
Lifes A Jungle 58.36s, Earl Jujon 58.46s, Island Bliss 58.96s, Hez Razor Sharp 58.97s and North Star Lad 59.01s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Carrick Park – Sunday afternoon
Hit’s: Helikaon $1.40 into $1.28, Pink Ponder $8.50 into $5.50 and Black Ops $16 into $9.50.
Defied The Drift: Lalasa $2.40 out to $2.60, Machbev $3.50 out to $4.40, Kadar $4.40 out to $7.00, Kardesler $2.90 out to $3.40, Sharmey $1.30 out to $1.45 and Tarleton Riley $10 out to $15.
Missed: Denwen Dancer $13 into $4.40, Rocket Blaster $6.00 into $3.10, Kuyomi $2.70 into $1.55, Believe In Forever $51 into $11, War Dan Star $26 into $16, Watchmylips $1.85 into $1.65, Proficient $31 into $10, Chris Be Quick $4.00 into $3.40 and Somehowsomeway $12 into $6.50.
Devonport – Tuesday evening
Hit’s: Aitutaki $3.60 into $3.00, Weerrook Harry $9.00 into $7.50, Arakbell $16 into $10, Lifes A Jungle $17 into $4.20 and Mach Charm $1.55 into $1.35.
Defied The Drift: Say A Prayer $2.40 out to $2.70.
Missed: Got The Goods $6.50 into $4.460, La Toison For $3.00 into $2.20, Topzavski $9.00 into $7.50, Mostly Spirit $11 into $7.00, Gone And Forgotten $6.00 into $2.30 then out to $3.00, The Deal $18 into $6.00, Tally Operator $31 into $9.00 and Pur Dan $5.50 into $3.30.
Trial File
King Island – Tuesday evening
The only trial session held anywhere in the state in the past seven days was at King Island, where Origin Billy did everything right to score by three-metres.
The Peter Jakowenko-trained, James Jakowenko driven pacer had to qualify after being retired from his race on Saturday where he was inclined to buck in the early stages.
Origin Billy defeated stable mates Letshavefun and Ark Fury in 2m 30.4s for 1735 metres.
You can view the trials held on mainland Tasmania by clicking here.
FORMPLUS Black Book
Guys Bettor Bet
He was a Hobart winner four starts ago and has been placed in two of three runs since that effort, including his most recent start at Carrick Park on Sunday. Driver Natalee Emery picked up the late drive after the unavailability of listed driver Sam Clotworthy. The now eight-year-old gelding was always going to find it tough, drawing barrier four on the second row, over the sprint trip. The pacer got stuck behind a few runners that were failing to take him into the race, leaving Emery with no option other than finding clear racing room out very wide on the flat corners of Carrick Park. The pacer ran on well out wide to finish third and record the fastest last 400 metres of the event which saw the track record broken.
Week Ahead
King Island will kick off the 2021 season with the feature race being the $4,000 Carlton and United Breweries King Island Pacing Cup.
Karalta Kruise has been the dominant horse on the island this summer season winning at each of the three clubs’ meetings and draws to race on speed in the 2438-metre event, and the gelding is one of two chances in the race for trainer John Rhodes who also has Staley engaged in the race.
The Cup is set down for 15:40, and the replay will be available on the Tasracing website within 20 minutes of the race.
Hobart will stage the first TAB meeting of the 2021 season on Sunday night with 10-races on the card, headlined by the Ladbrokes Hobart Pacing Cup.
Last start Group 3 Golden Apple winner The Shallows has come up with barrier five in the 2579-metre mobile start event, and he meets a very competitive field in the mobile start event including last year’s Hobart Pacing Cup winner Ryley Major.
The Hobart meeting will be live hosted on Tasracing TV, with the first race currently scheduled for Sky Racing 2 at the time of writing at 17:35, with the final nine races to be shown on Sky Racing 1.
There is plenty of Tasmanian interest at the Vicbred Final race night meeting at Melton on Thursday night with 12 Group 1 races on the card.
Some Tasmanian interest at the meeting includes;
Race 1 4YO Trotting Entires and Geldings Final
Horse 1 Beau Garcon – owned by Tasmanian Trotting Club, driver former Tasmanian Alex Ashwood,
Race 2 3YO Trotting Fillies
Horse 2 Golden Sunset – trainer and driver, is former Tasmanian Juanita Breen,
Race 6 2YO Colts and Geldings
Horse 10 Vintage Blu – driver former Tasmanian Alex Ashwood,
Race 7 2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings
Horse 6 Dont Care – driver former Tasmanian Alex Ashwood,
Race 9 4YO Entires and Geldings
Horse 10 Major Delico – driver former Tasmanian Josh Duggan,
Race 12 4YO Trotting Mares
Horse 5 Wisp Of Smoke – driver former Tasmanian Josh Duggan.
The New Year’s Eve card will be shown on Sky Racing 1, with 7Mate (Channel 63 in TAS) showing selected races from 8:00pm till 9:30pm.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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