The final round of heats of the 2018 Botra Claiming Novice Drivers Series was held in Launceston on Friday night where Conor Crook secured maximum points in heat five which was enough for him to secure the series.
Like many seasons in the past, Tasmania once again has a strong crop of three-year-olds with three horses from that crop winning across the seven race card.
Harness Racing continues in Tasmania tonight in Launceston with an eight-race card with one Trotting race and seven Pacing events before the action heads to Hobart for Friday night racing.
The Stars
Conor Crook - Took out the Botra Claiming Novice Drivers Series which concluded in Launceston on Friday night. Crook has been one of the most improved concession drivers in the state since deciding to make the plunge and relocate to Tasmania just over 12-months ago. He partnered Similan Beach to victory in heat five which gave him an unbeatable lead going into the final heat.
Dylan Ford - took out training honours on Friday night with a double. The first leg was with eight-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding Blisstar, who scored courtesy of a well-timed drive by Germaine Boisrame to defeat Dont Pass Im Fast to give Ford the training quinella. Two-year-old Bettethancheddar Filly, Betterbsweet, was the last leg of Ford's double when she won her second race at only her fourth racetrack appearance.
Deborah Williams - has her team performing consistently week in week out at present and she was in the winner’s circle again with Jaccka Len who won his third race in his past six starts.
The Three-year-olds - Similan Beach, Bettabrown Tiger and Beam Me Up Chooper all were in the winners' circle and all have above average ability. Keep an eye out for Betterbrown Tiger at Melton on Thursday night as he chases his Vicbred bonus.
Multiple Winners
Launceston - Friday
Dylan Ford – training double; Blisstar and Betterbsweet.
Conor Crook – driving double; Similan Beach and Jaccka Len.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action in Launceston on Friday.
The Aussie 56.42, Jackka Len 57.33, Illegal Immigrant 57.37, Inner Light 57.97 and Similan Beach 58.20.
View all Tasmanian Sectional Data here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston
Hit: Betterbsweet $4.40 into $3.90
Defied The Drift: Blisstar $18 out to $31, Finn Mac Kee $2.50 out to $2.70 and Beam Me Up Chopper $2.40 out to $2.60
Missed: Ready To Fire (7th) $12 in to $8.00, Selling The Dream (6th) $12 into $17, Heza Rummage (4th) $8.00 into $6.50 and Stryker (3rd) $2.05 into $1.80.
Trial File
Devonport on Monday
Three trials were staged at the Devonport Showgrounds, the quickest winning mile rate came in the last trial when Giant Steps was too good for his stable mate Sewcanhugh. They covered the 2297-metre journey in a mile rate of 2mins 8.3secs.
Giant Steps is a seven-year-old gelded son of Royal Mattjesty and is the winner of 11 races from 130-career starts. He also has 22 placings to his credit.
The remaining two trials were won by Another One Bites (2:09.8) and Giant Steps (2:08.3).
Week Ahead
Harness racing heads to Launceston tonight for an eight-race Tier Two programme.
The fast class race of the night is race three, a C5 and better-conditioned handicap over the 2200-metre journey where the Ben Yole trained, Troy McDonald driven Sheer Strength will be hoping to begin safely from the pole position. The Shadow Play geldings last win came in Launceston on May 20 in a similar class of race when he was able to lead all the way to win by 12-metres.
The sixth race on the card is the first Trotting race in Launceston since the reintroduction of Trotting races in Tasmania which features the first four placegetters from Hobart on July 1 take on newcomers to the state in Tip Top Eurasian and Charlottescrown who are both trained by Ben Yole.
The Tier One meeting for the week will be in Hobart on Friday night where Tasmanian Equine Veterinary Services Belmont Pace is the feature race on the card for the two-year-old Fillies.
The Robert Woods trained Blossom Grant will be no doubt trying to make the most of the pole draw advantage in the $12,000 event.
To be driven by Robert's grandson Brady, Blossom Grant has been placed in two of her three career starts including a third placing on debut behind Perfect Major and Karalta Moondance.
Her only two starts on the Hobart track came in during the Group 3 Evicus where she ran second in the prelude and fourth in the final.
The Tasmanian Equine Veterinary Services Belmont Pace is the first race on an eight-race card which will also see the running of the $12,000 Elite Pace commencing at 16:33.
Like always we have a plenty of Tasmanian interest interstate including;
Melton Thursday
Race 2 No. 11 Bettabrown Tiger - trained by Melissa Maine and will be driven by Gareth Rattray.
Race 5 No 13 Solid As A Rock - part-owned by Katrina Hillier.
Melton Saturday
Race 7 No. 6 Dasher Houli - trained by Mark Reggett who is also raced by Tasmanian interest.
