Ignatius, the Tasmanian star three-year-old once again flexed his muscles defeating M0 pacers at Menangle on Saturday night, a rare feat for a three-year-old, who ran the mile in 1min 53.3.
The winner of 16 races from 17 starts is the $1.90 favourite on Ubet for the Group 1 Breeders Crown Final at Melton later this month.
Another Tasmanian pacer being aimed at the Breeders Crown carnival is the inform Scooterwillrev who won his fourth race in a row on Friday night in Launceston, while the Paul Ashwood trained Max Delight won the Tasmanian two-year-old Colts and Geldings heat on Friday and is expected to take his spot in the semi-final at Bendigo on August 18.
The action this week kicks off tonight in Launceston with a six-race restricted class programme before the action turns back to Hobart on Sunday night for Tier One racing.
The Stars
Scooterwillrev– talented four-year-old who recorded his fourth win in a row when he won the Discretionary Handicap in Launceston on Friday night off a 20-metre handicap. The Craig Hayes-trained pacer is getting ready to pack his bags for a trip across Bass Strait for a race during the Breeders Crown Carnival, with connections still deciding on what event they contest.
Lachlan Dakin – found the winners circle for the first time in his career when he drove Goggo Gee Gee to victory on Friday. Dakin had a small number of drives before he fractured his hand playing football that saw him out of the sulky for a couple of months. Judging by a number of his recent drives it shouldn’t be too much longer till we see the Uni student in the winner’s list again.
Todd Rattray – took training honours with a training treble on Friday night at the Mowbray Racing Centre and he extended his lead on the state drivers’ title with a driving double.
Rodger Whitmore – continued his good strike rate with two-year-olds when the New Norfolk trainer trained Sutter Star to victory on Friday. The gelded son of Sutter Hanover remains undefeated after defeating Jigamaroo by 12.7-metres in a mile rate of 2:00.0.
Rohan Hillier and Ricky Duggan – recorded three wins between them on Friday and are putting up a great battle for the second position on the state drivers premiership. Whatever driver happens to finish second will join Todd Rattray as the Tasmanian representative at the Australian Drivers Championship next season.
Multiple Winners
Launceston – Friday
Todd Rattray – training and driving double; Hayleys Comet and Our Summer Vacation. Training treble with Goggo Gee Gee.
Rohan Hillier – driving double; Max Delight and Rocknroll Turbo.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action in Launceston on Friday night.
Scooterwillrev 55.91, Jaccka Len 56.45, Rocknroll Highlight 56.94, The Aussie 57.47 and Flashy Ruler 57.48.
View all Tasmanian Sectional Data here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston
Hit’s: Hayleys Comet $3.00 into $2.60 and Tisu Spirit $2.70 into $2.30.
Defied The Drift: Gems $3.80 out to $4.40, Sutter Star $2.05 out to $2.35.
Missed: Sheer Strength $51 into $26, Major Davvin $8.50 into $4.40, Invest $7.00 into $4.80 and No Apachemee $7.50 into $5.50.
Trial File
Hobart on Sunday
The clock was turned back 18 years with what used to be a long Tasmanian harness racing tradition of Sunday morning trials being held at the Elwick Racing Complex this week, where it was the Bianca Heenan show who prepared three of the five winners at the session.
The first win for Heenan came up in trial one when Altra Surreal for driver Dylan Ford led all the way in a standing start trial to defeat Ive Got Oomph by 15 metres in a mile rate of 2min 1.9secs for 2090-metres.
Four-year-old gelding Swap Me for driver Taylor Ford led all the way to win a C2 and better class trial under standing start conditions by 30-metres in the slowest mile rate of the morning in 2:07.5.
The fast class trial was won by the in-form Star Chamber who defeated stablemate Bounty Eyre by two metres but unfortunately, there was no time taken on the trial.
The other two winners were: Wattabout Spangher (2:02.8) and Vapar Glenn (2:01.8).
Week Ahead
Harness racing returns to Launceston tonight for a six-race restricted class programme.
Wesley Vale trainer John Castles has a number of winning chances at the meeting including Chirac who bounced back into the winner’s circle for the first time this season with a narrow win over Gotta Go Henry (who is also engaged in the race) in Devonport last time out.
Castles then has two winning chances in race five with Flashy Ruler and Keep Playing. Flashy Ruler has recorded one win and four placings from 17 career starts with all those top three placings coming with Rohan Hillier in the sulky who has been booked for tonight’s drive. The other runner for Castles in the race is Keep Playing who has drawn barrier six and is another pacer that has a good association with his driver Todd Rattray recording two wins at his last two drives behind the gelded son of Shadow Play including his most recent start in Devonport on July 29.
The first race tonight is set down to start at 17:18 with the action being shown live on tasracing.com.au as well as Sky Racing 2 with the exception of race two which will be shown on Sky Racing 1.
The action then heads to Hobart on Sunday evening with a nine-race card.
A number of in-form pacers clash in the fast class race of the night the Talbot Hotel Pace.
Scooterwillrev will be chasing his fifth win in a row after some dominant performances in recent weeks. The Craig Hayes-trained pacer has drawn barrier six as he continues his preparation to the Breeders Crown Carnival.
Rocknroll Turbo steps up to open class for the first time and will be chasing his fourth win in a row from the pole position. The Bianca Heenan-trained Star Chamber is undefeated after two starts back from a spell and a number of other starters in the race wouldn’t surprise if they brought their best form.
The action kicks off at 17:15.
Horses with Tasmanian interest contesting races at metropolitan venues interstate this week included;
Gloucester Park – Friday night
Race 4 – Horse 9 Devendra
Menangle – Saturday night
Race 5 – Horse 1 Shezallapples
Race 5 – Horse 11 Miss Graceland
Race 7 – Horse 9 Pachacuti
Melton – Saturday night
Race 6 – Horse 6 Resurgent Spirit
Race 8 – Horse 3 Solid As A Rock
Albion Park – Saturday night
Race 5 – Horse 10 El Major
