19 May 2021 | Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing
It was a big week of harness racing across both Hobart and Launceston last weekend, dominated by the Ben Yole stable, who recorded eight winners as he closes in on a season milestone.
Scooterwillrev won the weekend’s feature race, the Launceston Mile, where he sat parked to score in 1m 55.5s.
Todd Rattray kicked off the Launceston card with a training and driving treble, while Conor Crook rounded out the night with a driving treble, including Kuyomi, who he also trains.
There was plenty for the Tasmanians to cheer about on the city tracks on Saturday night, with Ignatius scoring in a Group 3 race at Menangle in 1m 50.9s, while at Melton Max Delight won the fast class race of the night in 1m 54.1s.
Former Tasmanian drivers were also in-form at Melton, with Jack Laugher driving a double and Josh Duggan also driving a winner on the night.
Hobart is the venue for harness racing this Sunday, the first of one harness meeting a week in the state for the next four weeks.
The Stars
Scooterwillrev – rewarded his connections for their perseverance after retirement had crossed their minds. This prep, the pacer has won the Group 2 Ladbrokes Easter Cup and on Sunday added the Launceston Mile to his resume where he raced outside the leader for the final 1300 metres and proved too tough for his rivals in 1m 55.5s, not a bad run on a cold Launceston night.
Lancelot – is a three-year-old going places and the gelded son of Roll With Joe notched up his third career win with a 21-metre victory on Sunday. Lancelot was the last leg of a training and driving treble for Todd Rattray, who also scored with Magic Joe and Radiant Red.
Jordan Chibnall – The former Victorian had her best weekend in the sulky, notching up four winners across the two meetings. She drove her first treble in Hobart on Friday with Hez The One, Ozzie Major and My Ultimate Romeo before scoring with Live For Peace in Launceston.
Racketeers Boy – notched up his 11th career win in Launceston after racing three-wide with cover for the final 1100 metres of the race to score, the gelding patiently driven by his trainer Troy Hillier.
Ben Yole – is closing in on being the first trainer in the nation to register a century of wins this season after preparing eight winners across the two meetings to take his total to 97.
Multiple Winners
Hobart – Friday evening
Ben Yole – training quintuple; Mykindoffeeling, Brian Who, Hez The One, Ozzie Major and My Ultimate Romeo,
Jordan Chibnall – driving treble; Hez The One, Ozzie Major and My Ultimate Romeo,
Troy McDonald – driving double; Mykindoffeeling and Brian Who,
Launceston – Sunday evening
Todd Rattray – training and driving treble; Magic Joe, Radiant Red and Lancelot,
Ben Yole – training treble; Live For Peace, Pink Ponder and Postal Run,
Conor Crook – driving treble; Pink Ponder, Postal Run and Kuyomi.
Tasracing Calculated Sectionals
Hobart – Friday evening
Brian Who 57.58s, Lives A Jungle 57.66s, Jocund 57.71s, My Celebrity 58.03s and Mia From Memphis 58.05s.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Launceston Mile; Coolhand Easton 56.71s, Illegal Immigrant 56.74s, Scooterwillrev 56.76s and Cool Water Paddy 57.05.
Remaining races; Be Major Threat 56.70s, Racketeers boy 56.80s, Deadly Assassin 57.27 and Kohanah 57.66s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart – Friday evening
Hit: Brian Who $6.00 into $3.80.
Defied The Drift: Mista Eagle $4.60 out to $4.80, Mykindoffeeling $4.60 out to $5.00, Karalta Kruise $3.50 out to $6.00, Jack James $4.00 out to $5.50, Hez The One $6.50 out to $10, Ozzie Major $7.00 out to $9.00 and My Ultimate Romeo $5.50 out to $6.00.
Missed: Gauci $13 into $7.00, Signorina Jujon $15 into $8.00, Jocund $3.80 into $2.30, Juniper $10 into $5.00, Life A Jungle $8.50 into $4.60, Jeans Mattjesty $21 into $9.00, Keep Playing $3.30 into $2.50 and Mach Charm $4.20 into $3.60.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Hit’s: Lancelot $1.60 into $1.35, Live For Peace $19 into $14, Scooterwillrev $3.00 into $2.70, Pink Ponder $21 into $19, Postal Run $26 into $8.00 and Kuyomi $1.45 into $1.35.
Defied The Drift: Magic Joe $1.60 out to $2.40, Radiant red $1.85 out to $1.95 and Racketeers Boy $2.50 out to $2.80.
Missed: Miss Papenhuyzen $3.00 into $1.90, Iden Miss Lucy $3.30 into $2.80, Guys Bettor Bet $5.00 into $4.00, Rockandahardplace $5.00 into $3.50, Cool Water Paddy $2.40 into $1.90, Somedan $9.50 into $7.50, Kohanah $9.00 into $5.50, Belle Of Brooklyn $3.80 into $3.30 and Better Amour $13 into $9.00.
Trial File
Carrick Park – Saturday morning
The Ben Yole-trained Montana Lad recorded the quickest mile rate of the three trials held when scoring in a rating 56 to 63 trial over the mile trip in 2m 4.0s.
The Bettors Delight gelding was able to get a soft lead out of the mobile and it appeared McDonald had a bit up his sleeve late when defeating Lets Save The Day who was doing his best work late by two metres.
Other trials were won by Tally Operator (2m 5.0s) and Arctic (N.T.T), with both horses leading throughout to win their respective trials.
Week Ahead
Friday: The Group 1 New South Wales Regional Championship series is in full swing and at Newcastle on Friday night the Hunter Final will be held.
Tasmanian based trainer-driver Kyle Pratten is a part-owner of Jasper Styles who has drawn gate five in the $100,000 event.
Saturday: The Regional Championships continue at Menangle where the James Rattray-trained and driven Jigamaroo will contest the Metropolitan Consolation.
At Melton, Tasmanian owned and bred Streitkid has drawn barrier one in the opening race, while in race two trotter Swiss Miss will go around. The Majestic Son mare is part owned by Barry Cooper and Jamie Cockshutt.
Sunday: The sole Tasmanian meeting will be held in Hobart sole with 11-races including the LHT Cup. The meeting commences at 16:59 with the first two races to be shown on Sky Racing 2 before converting to Sky Racing 1 for the remainder of the program.
Monday: Trials will be held in both Hobart and Devonport from 17:30.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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