14 April 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
Ladbrokes Easter Cup winner Scooterwillrev was in the winner’s circle again in Launceston on Sunday.
The win was the 1,400th Australian driving win for Gareth Rattray.
Rattray also won the weekend’s feature race, the $12,000 Neil Cameron Patrons Marathon in Devonport aboard the Ben Yole- trained Earl Jujon.
At Menangle in Sydney on Saturday night, Ignatius continued his winning way with an 11.1-metre win in 1m 50.9s for the mile trip. The pacer will race again on Saturday week before connections decide if they send the pacer to North America.
Tuesday saw the Office Of Racing Integrity conduct the much-awaited Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup inquiry.
Stewards on the night considered a protest from the second and third placegetters (The Shallows and Lip Reader), against the winner (Bullys Delight).
The grounds of the protest were for improper driving, whip use against the rules of racing and interference, which was subsequently dismissed.
Stewards informed parties involved in the protest hearing on the night that they would consider AHRR 174(1), which can only be invoked after a driver has been found guilty of an offence.
Tuesday’s inquiry was headed by Ray Murrihy, who was appointed to chair the inquiry by the Acting Director Of Racing Tony Latham on 15 March.
The inquiry was adjourned to allow stewards to consider their decision.
Murrihy has held many senior roles in racing integrity positions, including 21-years as chairman of stewards for Racing New South Wales, and he was also chairman of stewards for Tasmanian harness racing between 1975 to 1978.
This week we have harness racing in Hobart on Friday evening and in Launceston on Sunday night.
The Stars
Gareth Rattray – notched up his 1,400th Australian driving win when Scooterwillrev scored in the final race of the night in Launceston. Rattray was the third Tasmanian to achieve the driving feat. He has also driven winners in New Zealand and Norway, which are not included in the tally.
Rocknovertime – notched up his first win of the season with a dominant win in Launceston. Trainer-driver Paul Hill took the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding straight to the lead and was untroubled to score in a 55.9s last-half mile. Connections are considering a Victorian campaign.
Troy McDonald – has a 10-win lead at the top of the state drivers premiership after driving five winners over the weekend, with a double in Devonport on Friday and a treble in Launceston on Sunday night, where his drive on Brighton Prince demonstrated why he is at the top of the table.
Lavaughn – is a Conor Crook-trained mare that is in-form, she recorded her third win of the season with a decisive win in a race restricted to fillies and mares with no more than three lifetime wins.
Earl Jujon – claimed the weekend’s feature race, the Patrons Marathon in Devonport on Friday night, where he came from last after being slowly away from the tapes to score in the 2645-metre feature.
Multiple Winners
Devonport – Friday evening
Ben Yole – training quintuple; Wave The Hat, My Celebrity, Oneofthelads, Earl Jujon and Yellow Taxi,
Troy McDonald – driving double; Wave The Hat and Oneofthelads,
Hannah Van Dongen – driving double; Chris Be Quick and Ol Titch.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Ben Yole – training treble; Deadly Assassin, Good Feelings and Ranieri,
Troy McDonald – driving treble; Brighton Prince, Good Feelings and Ranieri.
Tasracing Calculated Sectionals
Devonport – Friday evening
Aunty Bessy 58.70s, Wave The Hat 58.80s, Earl Jujon 59.01s, Gauci 59.08s and Taurisi 59.229.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Christian Jaz 55.77s, Rocknovertime 55.90s, Hez Razor Sharp 56.14s, Starofrembrance 56.21s and El Jays Blu 56.44s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Devonport – Friday evening
Hit’s: Wave The Hat $2.90 into $2.30, Chris Be Quick $5.00 into $3.60, Oneofthelads $5.00 into $3.20, Earl Jujon $2.25 into $1.95 and Ol Titch $41 into $21.
Defied The Drift: My Celebrity $4.80 out to $6.50 and Yellow Taxi $9.00 out to $11.
Missed: Rockowsroad $5.00 into $4.20, Guys Bettor Bet $6.50 into $4.00, Perfect Mach $11 into $8.50, Denstown $7.00 into $4.80, Mach Charm $5.00 into $2.50 and Got The Goods $21 into $9.00.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Hit’s: Lavaughn $2.20 into $1.60, Rockandahardplace $10 into $6.00, Brighton Prince $9.00 into $8.50, Rambleon $17 into $13, Good Feelings $5.50 into $4.00, Ranieri $19 into $9.00 and scoterwillrec $1.55 into $1.40.
Defied The Drift: Deadly Assassin $4.20 out to $6.00.
Missed: Karalta Courage $10 into $8.00, Pur Dan $6.00 into $3.80, Rowley $21 into $11, Guys Bettor Bet $7.00 into $4.20, Coveffe Hustler $10 into $4.80, Rockinfeelgood $5.00 into $4.10 and Izaha $8.00 into $6.00.
Trial File
Carrick Park – Saturday morning
Five trials were held where four-year-old entire Kohannah was first seen in public since winning the Group 2 Globe Derby in Launceston last November when scoring in a standing start trial.
The pacer stepped away safely off his 10-metre handicap to settle three back the pegs before gaining one-out one-back cover at the bell. Trainer-driver Todd Rattray made his move at the top of the home straight where he hit the line nicely to score by seven metres in the 2150-metre trial.
There was no official time given for the trial.
Other winners included; Gueneveres Madonna (2m 9.0s), Radiant Red (2m 4.5s), A Good Red (2m 2.3s) and Bonacci (2m 2.0s).
Hobart – Monday evening
Five trials were staged on Monday night where the rating 38-50 pacers recorded the fastest mile rate of the session of 2m 3.9s.
Abs Boy recorded it for trainer Greg Scott and Jacob Duggan, he is one of many drivers in the state at present trying to obtain their race day license.
Abs Boy settled three-back the marker pegs before working into the trial out three-wide around the home bend to go on and score by 5.4 metres over Galaxy Dancer and Mister Eagle.
Other winners were; Im Jaks Teller (2m 4.4s), Hivoltage Glenwood (2m 5.5s), Spanski (2m 8.6s) and Christian Major (2m 5.4s).
Week Ahead
Friday: Hobart host Friday night racing where heats of the Light Harness Tasmania Cup headline the card, the $12,000 Final will be held on 25 April.
Sunday: Another Tier 1 meeting will be held in Launceston with only a seven-race card to be held from 17:52.
Trials are scheduled prior to Sunday’s race meeting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
