It was a successful Hobart Pacing and Trotting Cup day programme last Sunday with a number of brilliant performances across the nine races held, that feature prominently in this week’s Harness Highlights.
Our star three-year-old from last season, Ignatius, smashed the clock when he resumed from a spell at Menangle last week as he commences the Chariots Of Fire Campaign.
This week we see a number of the states open class pacers at both Launceston and Burnie continuing their preparation for the upcoming Tasmanian Autumn Carnival features the $75,000 Triple M Tasmania Cup in Hobart next month and the $75,000 Easter Cup in Launceston.
The Stars
Harjeet – added more silverware to the Todd Rattray mantlepiece when he trained and drove Harjeet to victory in Sunday’s $25,000 Triple M Hobart Pacing Cup, it was the fifth black-type win for the Rocknroll Heaven gelding who is no doubt the best horse racing in Tasmania at present. It will be interesting to see what way connections go looking forward as he will be off a 30-metre handicap in next months Triple M Tasmania Cup or if connections look at taking him on an interstate mission.
Bianca Heenan – remains in the second position on the state trainers premiership with a training double at TAB Park Elwick including the inaugural Aldebaran Park Hobart Trotters Cup with Trumps Golden Boy. It was the fourth win in a row for the Tennotrump gelding who will be competitive in next months Aldebaran Park Tasmanian Trotting Championship.
Dasher Houli – made it back-to-back wins, and his win on Sunday was terrific where he raced three-wide for the first four hundred metres before racing outside the leader for the final 1200 meters in a slick run for the mile of 1m 56.4. Dasher Houli was one of two wins for driver Hannah Van Dongen on the programme.
Beam Me Up Chopper – the race didn’t go to script for the Kate MacLeod trained and driven four-year-old who raced three and four wide the trip, however, the Sportswriter gelding proved too strong for his rivals in the Crown Lager Pace. As mentioned last week there is a number of nice locally bred four-year-olds being aimed at the $50,000 Raider Stakes later in the season and no doubt we will see Beam Me Up Chopper aimed in that direction.
Ideal Bliss – resumed from a spell with a dominant win in the Roberts Sprint Lane Pace, trainer Paul Hill had put plenty of groundwork into the American Ideal mare who was first up since running second in the Bandbox final last May.
Tilly Max – Paul Ashwood trained and driven filly who led all the way to win on debut, she is bred and owned by Mick Maxfield.
Multiple Winners
Devonport – Friday evening
Ben Yole – training treble; Nickys Logic, Stylish Trend and Nikks Pick.
Rohan Hillier – driving double; Flashy Ruler and Stylish Trend.
Hobart – Sunday afternoon
Bianca Heenan – training double; Trumps Golden Boy and Alta Surreal.
Hannah Van Dongen – driving double; Alta Surreal and Dasher Houli.
Todd Rattray – training and driving double; Harjeet and Joogle.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Devonport – Friday evening
Campaign Drive 58.59s, Nickys Logic and Lake Eyre 58.60s, Stylish Trend 58.8s and Punchinello 58.86s.
Hobart – Sunday afternoon
Plata O Plomo 56.66s, All Style Sammy 57.42s and Full Speed Ahead 57.48s. Outside of race six; Alta Surreal 58.00s and Redason 58.24s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Devonport – Friday evening
Hit: Stylish Trend $4.20 into $3.30.
Defied The Drift: Midair Meltdown $3.00 out to $3.80, Chilla Breeze $2.25 out to $2,60, Nickys Logic $6.50 out to $8.00, Flashy Ruler $4.40 out to $4.60 and Melanna Beach $2.40 out to $3.40.
Missed: Paint The Wind $11 into $3.60, Got The Goods $7.00 into $5.50, Touchwood Levista $14 into $8.00 and Diamond Grace $4.80 into $3.10.
Hobart – Sunday afternoon
Hit’s: Alta Surreal $7.50 into $5.50 and Beam Me Up Chopper $4.80 into $3.50.
Defied The Drift: Trumps Golden Boy $1.80 out to $2.00, Tilly Max $2.40 out to $2.80, Dasher Houli $10 out to $12, Ektoras $26 out to $31 and Joogle $3.80 out to $5.00.
Missed: Ten Caisses $12 into $7.50, Frankie Falzoni $18 into $12, No Apachemee $31 into $13, Real Diamond $11 into $8.50, Hit The Lights $31 into $17 and Abs Boy $14 into $9.50.
Trial File
Hobart – Monday evening
The Sam Rawnsley trained and driven pacer Drayton was a 15-metre winner of the C3 and better class trial at TAB Park Elwick on Monday evening in a mile rate of 2m 1.7s for 2090-metres.
The eight-year-old gelding who hasn’t been seen since running second on December 21 was able to find the lead and recorded a lead time of 35.8s into quarters of 33.3s, 30.8s, 29.2s and 28.9s.
Only one metre separated Lockaway Kacie and War Chest who finished second and third.
Remaining trials were taken out by; The Aussie (2m 2.0s), Sacramento Sun (2m 8.2s), Sutter Star (2m 3.3s), Iden Forest (2m 4.7s) and Chasing Cheetahs (2m 5.3s).
Burnie – Monday evening
Three trials were staged at Burnie ahead of this week’s race meeting where Freds Under Fire recorded the quickest winning mile rate of 2m 4.4s when he scored in a C0-C1 trial.
The mobile start trial was run over 2180-metres with the gelded son of Courage Under Fire being able to defeat Laid Back Kenny by one metre.
The remaining two trials were won by; Fortino (2m 5.6s) and Totallytoolittle (2m 4.8s).
Week Ahead
Scooterwillrev will continue his mission to next months $75,000 Triple M Tasmania Cup when he lines up in the Billing Cranes Stakes at Burnie on Friday evening.
The Craig Hayes trained pacer remains undefeated in two starts on the Burnie circuit in the past and the gelding will have to overcome a 30-metre handicap in the C5 and better-conditioned handicap over the 2500-metre journey.
A top-five finish on Friday will see Scotterwillrev break the $150,000 barrier in prize money.
The race is set to start at 19:10with the first of six-races scheduled to commence at 17:41.
Launceston is the venue for Sunday evening racing with an eight-race programme that features two $12,000 races including the Harry Holgate Memorial Final and Launceston Discretionary.
The barrier draw has shaped an intriguing Harry Holgate Memorial Final with all three heat winners drawing the second row in the 2200-metre event.
Chilla Breeze has drawn barrier nine and is the winner of two of his four starters since joining the Troy Hillier stable including the first heat of this race three starts back over Swap Me, and he was a winner at Devonport on February 1 when he led all the way to score.
Volkova Leis was another heat winner and was a tough effort when doing so, that win was the first win in 14 try’s at the TAB Racing Centre in Launceston. While the remaining heat winner Art Frenzy who has used his good gate speed to lead and win three races in his last five starts, unfortunately won’t be able to use that from his second-row draw.
The $12,000 Launceston Discretionary will see a number of the states free-for-all pacers continue their preparation to the states Autumn Carnival that features the Tasmania and Easter Cup.
Eight races are set down for the decision on Sunday commencing at 17:39.
Interstate this week we see Resurgent Spirit return to the track in the Group 3 Echuca Pacing Cup.
The Kate Hargreaves trained pacer will be seeking his 30th career win in the $35,000 race and was an $11 chance with tab.com.au.
Ignatius is a $3.80 chance for Saturday weeks $200,000 Chariots Of Fire, but first the James Rattray trained and driven pacer has to qualify for the Group 1 feature.
His last chance to do so is in Saturday night’s Paleface Adios Stakes at Menangle, where once again he was drawn poorly in barrier nine.
Last week the gelded son of Roll With Joe was restrained from gate ten to settle well back in the field and recorded his own last half mile in 52.04s (and that’s correct!!) when finishing in the sixth spot.
A $3.00 chance with tab.com.au for this weeks race, Ignatius will have to run to finish in the top four placings to secure a spot in the Chariots Of Fire field.
