13 September 2018 | Duncan Dornauf
The 2018-2019 Harness racing season kicked off in Launceston on Friday night with an eight-race card.
This week harness racing returns to the Sunday twilight time slot for BOTRA race night in Hobart where nine races will be decided.
The Stars
David Mace – ended his long career in the saddle in the role of Clerk of the course in Launceston on Friday night, after commencing his role in the late 70’s. You can read more about David’s long career here.
Rohan Hillier – continued his good form into the new season with a driving treble and was in the winner’s circle on a fourth occasion when Svensson, who he trains, was successful courtesy of a copybook drive from Rohan Hadley. The win of Svensson was the first leg of a training double for Hillier who won with Smilin Geoff later in the night.
Illegal Immigrant – remains on track for some of the feature races later in the season with a brilliant win in the fast class race of the night.
Chester Bullock – owner, trainer and breeder of six-year-old gelding Cardinal Coffee who won his first race at his ninth racetrack appearance.
Multiple Winners
Launceston – Friday
Rohan Hillier – driving treble; No Apachemee, Illegal Immigrant and Smilin Geoff. Also a training double with Svensson and Smilin Geoff.
Ben Yole – training double; No Apachemee and Black Ops.
Todd Rattray – training double; Koolaz Elvis and Hayley’s Comet
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action:
Launceston – Friday
No Apachemee and Monarkmac 56.70s, Heza Rummage 57.03s, Metro Star 57.14s and Hez The One 57.27s.
You can view sectionals from every runner from the meeting and more Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston – Friday
Hit’s: Koolaz Elvis $3.00 into $2.30, Black Ops $3.90 into $3.10 and Hayley’s Comet $3.90 into $3.50.
Defied The Drift: Svensson $6.00 out to $7.50 and Cardinal Coffee $3.20 out to $3.40.
Missed: Cardinal Art $26 into $18, Washmepockets $26 into $19, Charlie Tango $20 into $17.
Trial File
Hobart on Monday night
Three trials were staged on Monday where the Ben Yole trained Sign Of A Tyne recorded the quickest winning mile rate of 2min 4.4sec for the 2090-metre trip.
Driven by Conor Crook, Sign Of A Tyne did everything correctly after being stood down at his previous start for one satisfactory trial by Stewards. The Life Sign gelding won by two metres over Duct Tape and Dee Bee Bobby.
The remaining two trials were won by War Chest in a mile rate of 2min 7.3sec for a standing start trial over 2090 metres and Seeled And Sinful who won his trial under mobile start conditions on 2min 7.3sec.
Week Ahead
Hobart is the venue for Sunday twilight harness racing this weekend kicking off with a Discretionary handicap over 2090 metres.
The Juanita McKenzie trained pacer, The Aussie, has only missed a top-two finish on one occasion in eight standing start races with his record showing three wins and four second placings. One of those wins came on the Hobart circuit two starts ago when he was sent out the $2.00 favourite in a C4 or better standing start race where he started off a 10-metre handicap.
You can make a case for all of his five opponents in the event including Another Swinger, Poker Storm and Fortino all of which chased home The Dip when they last raced, with the Ben Yole trained duo also with chances including Rocknrollhighlight who won in Hobart three starts ago and Im Barney Rubble who ran a much-improved race in Launceston last time out.
The Hobart card will be telecast on Sky Racing 1 and TasRacing.com.au’s Live Stream Coverage with the first race due to start at 16:33.
A number of race names on Sunday night are named after sires that the Tasmanian branch of BOTRA will give away to some of the lucky members from last season and new members that they have secured for this season. The draw will take place during the Hobart meeting.
Also at the Hobart meeting at 18:00 the Tasmanian Pacing Club will stage a small function in the Committee Room area for those interested in taking part in the next Raceatrotter Syndicate.
The first trotter that the Tasmanian Pacing Club secured and syndicated out was Redason who has earned his connections $8,982 in prizemoney from his five starts since arriving in the state. Full details of the information session are available on the Tasmanian Pacing Club Facebook page.
Interstate this week at Metropolitan venues across Australia we see:
Gloucester Park – Friday night
Race 5 Horse 1 – Devendra
Melton – Saturday night
Race 2 Horse 5 – Offthetopofmyhead
Race 5 Horse 6 – Resurgent Spirit
Menangle – Saturday night
Race 1 Horse 1 – Rykov Leis (Emg)
Race 2 Horse 11 – Rykov Leis
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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