It was a massive week on the Tasmanian harness racing scene with last week's meetings being held in primetime twilight slots on Friday and Saturday.
In Hobart on Friday, the 2014 Tasmania Cup winner Star Chamber bounced back into the winner's circle for the first time since May 2016 with a dominant win in the Metropolitan Cup.
The action then headed to the country place of pace at Carrick Park where Call Her Julie was too strong for her rivals winning the 2018 Carrick Park Pacing Cup for Oatlands trainer-driver Matthew Cooper. Meanwhile, Semowillrev (pictured) outstayed his rivals in the Tasmanian Country Championship for the three-year-olds as he continues his path to the Tasmanian Derby on April 8.
Hannah Van Dongen registered the states first win in Tasmania for Team Teal when partnering Cemento Rapido to victory. The Team Teal promotion runs through until March 11 when the inaugural Australian Female Drivers Championship will be held in Launceston.
The action this week kicks off in Hobart on Friday evening while the Devonport Harness Racing Club will stage four $12,000 feature races on their nine-race programme on Sunday evening.
The Stars
Matthew Cooper - enjoyed his biggest win in the industry when he trained and drove Call Her Julie to victory in the Carrick Park Pacing Cup. The Lombo Pocket Watch mare sat outside the leader to record her sixteenth win and her seventh since being in Coopers Oatlands based stable.
Semowillrev - Commenced his Tasmanian Derby preparation with one of his toughest wins in the Tasmanian Country Championship when he was out three wide for the final 1200-metres to win untroubled by 12 metres.
Bianca Heenan - prepared Star Chamber for his first win since May 2016 when her stable star defeated a class field in the Metropolitan Cup in Hobart.
Blackjackhanover - the Campbell Watt trained pacer enjoyed dropping back in class with a tough win in a C5 to C7 Pace in Hobart.
Troy Hillier - recorded his 100th win in the sulky when he partnered Illegal Immigrant to victory in Hobart.
Multiple Winners
Hobart - Friday
Kent Rattray - training Double; Karalta Moondance and Triple Aitch Fella.
John Walters - driving Double; Karalta Moondance and Triple Aitch Fella.
Ben Yole - training double; Arrived In Time and Jeans Mattjesty.
Carrick Park - Saturday
Gareth Rattray - driving double; Cardinal Art and Semowillrev.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action in Hobart on Friday.
Chilla Breeze 56.96, All Style Sammy 56.98, Sheer Strength 57.21, Isaac 57.22 and Star Chamber 57.23.
View all sectional data from the meeting here.
And from Carrick Park on Saturday.
Midair Meltdown 59.21, Semowillrev 59.35, Vinnie Toretto 59.41, Cardinal Art 59.70, Mary Jill and To The Rescue 59.72.
View all sectional data from the meeting here.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart
Hit: Triple Aitch Fella $7 into $6.
Defied The Drift: Lockaway Kacie $11 out to $13, Arrived In Time $8 out to $12, Bettabrown Tiger $1.55 to $1.75, Jeans Mattjesty $21 to $26.
Missed: Optimus Bart $6 into $5, Riverboat Jasper $6.50 to $5.50.
Black Booker
Bobby Direct
Was having his first start since joining the Kent Rattray stable after two unplaced runs in regional Victoria. From barrier one the Mach Three gelding settled behind the leader before weaving into the clear around the home corner before working home to finish third. There is no doubt Bobby Direct still has a little bit more to learn as he did race greenly in stages, he is a horse I believe we can keep an eye on in upcoming non-winner's races.
Watch the replay here.
Trial File
Devonport on Monday
The Melissa Maine trained Tisu Spirit recorded the quickest mile rate of the five trials ran in 2:05.8. The American Ideal gelding recorded back to back wins in August, was having his second trial back this preparation. Tisu Spirit worked to the lead early and scored in Monday's trial by 15-metre over Miss Superbia.
Winners of the other four trials held were; Jaminas Joy (2:07.0), Reactor Mac (2:12.9), Heavenly Rock (2:06.1) and Border Cross (2:06.8).
Week Ahead
American Ideal filly Ideal Bliss will be looking to register her fifth win at start seven when she lines up in the opening race in Hobart on Friday at 16:50.
The Paul Hill trained pacer will be having her first start in 75-days and hasn’t been sighted since her win on December 10 when she was too strong defeating Vouvray Beach by 5.8 metres. Despite drawing barrier five on the second row over the 1609 metre journey for Friday’s assignment, Ideal Bliss does look a class above her rivals.
There is plenty of feature racing in Devonport on Sunday evening including the final of the Allen Williams Memorial where Smithton owner-breeders Trevor and Marjorie Leis will be hoping for success in the race with one of their two runners in the race Volkova Leis and Karpenkova Leis.
Volkova Leis won the opening heat in Devonport on February 2, trained by Shelley Barnes the Bettors Delight mare will be driven by Gareth Rattray in Sunday’s $12,000 final.
The other runner in the race for Trevor and Marjorie is the Todd Rattray trained and driven pacer Karpenkova Leis who broke her maiden status when winning a heat of this race in Launceston on February 11, the Somebeachsomewhere filly has a horror draw to overcome starting from outside the second row.
The first of nine races on Sunday gets underway at 17:34.
