Tasmanian Harness Highlights – Friday, 22 February

22 February 2019 | Duncan Dornauf
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The state’s leading trainer Ben Yole had a big weekend which saw him prepare five winners across two states last weekend that included the win of No Apachemee at Melton on Friday night.

Magra-based trainer Juanita McKenzie claimed her second Vandenberg Transport Carrick Park Pacing Cup when Inner Light was able to take out the $12,000 feature.

This week we are off to TAB Park Hobart for the Metropolitan Cup and the first heat of the Aldebaran Park Tasmanian Trotters Championship on Friday and then the action turns to Devonport on Sunday night.

The Stars

Ben Yole – was the inform trainer of the weekend with a training treble on Friday with a double in Hobart with Gems and Stylish Trend while he also prepared No Apachemee to an impressive victory at Melton where he recorded a mile rate of 1m 52.3s. The Yole stable continued their good form with a training double with Badrick taking out the clubs premier three-year-old race, the Cressy Transport Tasmanian Championship and Nickys Logic who recorded her fourth win of the season.

Ricky Duggan – Tasmania’s most successful driver of all time claimed his fifth Vandenberg Transport Carrick Park Pacing Cup when he partnered the Juanita McKenzie-trained Inner Light to victory. Duggan was the standout driver on the Carrick Park card with a driving treble.

Illegal Immigrant – continued his path to next month’s Triple M Tasmania Cup with a 3.7-meter win in the Elite Free-for-all in Hobart on Friday. It was the third win at start seven for the gelded son of American Ideal.

Kohanah – was a brilliant winner on debut in the last race of the night in Hobart. The Sweet Lou colt showed a good will-to-win in the home straight to score in a mile of 2m 2.2s.

Really Frank – five-year-old gelding who recorded his first win at start 40 for trainer-driver Justin Campbell.

Multiple Winners

Hobart – Friday evening 

Ben Yole – training double; Gems and Stylish Trend

Carrick Park – Saturday afternoon

Ricky Duggan – driving treble; Peaceful Thomas, Forever Ours and Inner Light.

Mark Yole – driving double; Nickys Logic and Badrick.

Ben Yole – training double; Nickys Logic and Badrick.

Calculated Sectional Standouts

Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.

Hobart – Friday evening

Illegal Immigrant 56.86s, Destreos 57.07 and The Aussie 57.21.Outside of race four; Monark  Mac57.83s and Usain Jolt 57.94s.

Carrick Park  – Saturday afternoon

Swap Me 57.20s, Give Me The Night 5734s and Karalta Kruise 57.60. Outside of race seven; Choosa Cruiser 58.42 and Peaceful Thomas 58.93s.

View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.

Tasracing Official Price

Hobart – Friday evening 

Hit’s: Really Frank $6.50 into $3.30 and Kohanah $1.65 into $1.35.

Defied The Drift: Resurgent Dream $4.20 out to $4.80 and Stylish Trend $7.00 out to $7.50.

Missed: Im Full Tilt $12 into $7.50 and Ektoras $26 into $10.

Carrick Park – Saturday afternoon 

The Tasracing Official Price was not in operation due to the non-Tab status of the meeting.

Trial File

Hobart – Monday evening

Three-year-old colt Resurgent Storm recorded the quickest winning mile rate of the night when he recorded 2m 4.8s for 2090-meters.

It was the second trial back this preparation for the son of Betterthancheddar who was last at the bell and was able to go on and win by two-meters over the stable mate Sutter Star.

The final two sections was covered in 32.6s and 31.1s.

Remaining trials were won by; Moonlite Bay 2m 8.3s, Whos Watching Now 2m 10.3s, Cool Water Paddy 2m 5.7s, Caciocavallo 2m 6.8s and Streitkid 2m 6.2s.

Devonport – Monday evening.

Lucy Lindenny, a four-year-old mare by Changeover out of the Sokys Atom mare Helena Kilena recorded the quickest winning mile rate of 2m 3.7s for 2297-meters.

She was able to lead from gate one for driver Gareth Rattray and her new trainer Donald Foley.

The New Zealand bred pacer has been racing predominantly in New South Wales in her 17-start career which has seen two wins and five placings.

The other three trials were won by; Perfect Mach 2m 12.3s, Maybe Jack 2m 8.7s and Rocket Blaster 2m 12s.

Week Ahead

The Tier 1 meeting of the week is at the Devonport Showgrounds on Sunday evening.

Eight races are set down for decision including the first heat of the time honoured Allen Williams Memorial series.

Karalta Demon and Navua Pixie are both coming into the race with a second placing at their most recent start.

The John Castles-trained Suzy Zebra is one of two horses in the race to have won a race, and the lightly raced six-year-old mare has found the winners stall on four occasions on King Island. Suzy Zebra was defeated 10 metres at her first start on mainland Tasmania at Burnie after enjoying a soft run behind the leader.

Rocket Blaster is a Melissa Maine trained debutante who has had four trial in preparation for Sunday’s assignment including a trial win at the Devonport  Showgrounds on Monday night.

The first of eight races on Sunday kicks off at 18:14.

Hobart on Friday is deemed to be the Tier 2 meeting of the week, although the $12,000 Metropolitan Cup and the first heat of the Aldebaran Park Tasmanian Trotters Championship will be run.

Harjeet, the best horse racing in Tasmania at present will start a red hot favourite in the Metropolitan Cup as he continues his preparation to next month’s $75,000 Triple M Tasmania Cup.

The last-start Hobart Pacing Cup winner is the sole second-row runner in the 2579-meter event.

Interstate this week we see a massive feature card of racing at Menangle where the Michael Maxfield owned Max Delight will contest the second heat of the New South Wales Derby.

The son of Bettors Delight is an $11 chance with tab.com.au and will start from barrier six, with Todd McCarthy taking the drive.

 

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