The Tasmanian Harness Racing Autumn Carnival is finally here!
Tonight the Tasmanian Trotting Club hosts a brilliant card with the first heat of the Triple M Tasmanian Pacing Cup, and the second heat of the Aldebaran Park Tasmanian Trotting Cup.
Also the 3YO Fillies Championship and Tasmanian Guineas which are both important lead-up races to the Tasmanian Oaks and Derby.
A number of the states mares will also contest races as they further their preparation to the states premier mares race, the George Johnson with all those feature races set down for Saturday night March 16.
We also have harness racing in Burnie on Sunday evening, but first let’s look back at last week’s action where the states leading drivers once again showed the skill in the sulky, while a former star returned to the track from a long injury forced lay off.
The Stars
Ricky Duggan – doesn’t travel from his New Norfolk base to the Devonport Showgrounds all that often, but when he does punters take notice, and if they did on Sunday evening then they would have been well rewarded when he drove four of the right winners which included Jetcraft who was supported from $26 into $19 on the Tasracing Official Price.
Mark Yole – drove his 450th winner on Sunday night in Devonport when he led all the way to win on The Lemondrop Kid, who is prepared by his brother Ben. Mark sits on top of the states drivers title with 46-wins.
Harjeet – Warmed up for tonights opening heat of the Triple M Tasmania Pacing Cup, with an effortless win in the Metropolitan Cup in Hobart on Friday night.
Majestic Ess Jay – trained by Eric Jacobson, this trotter was having his first start in the state and was the first horse to qualify for the inaugural Aldebaran Park Tasmanian Trotting Cup courtesy of a confident drive by Ray Pullen.
Resurgent Storm – commenced his Tasmanian Derby preparation off in fine style in Hobart last week where he was too strong for his stablemate Sutter Star, both horses will test tonight’s Tasmanian Guineas.
Multiple Winners
Hobart – Friday evening
Ben Yole – training double; Hez The One and Northview Dave,
Todd Rattray – training and driving double; Harjeet and Arthur Elliott.
Devonport – Sunday evening
Ricky Duggan – driving quartet; Ideal Bliss, Poker Storm, Jetcraft and Smilin Geoff.
Todd Rattray – driving double; Kuzma and Keep Playing.
Ben Yole – training double; Nor Westa and The Lemondrop Kid.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Hobart – Friday evening
Artarama 56.55s, Metro Star 56.89s, Ready To Fire 57.18s, Rockin An Runnin 57.21s and Monarkmac 57.24s.
Devonport – Sunday evening
Tisu Spirit 58.37s, Poker Storm 58.39s, Never Sighted 58.48s, Perfect Mach 58.50s and All Style Sammy 58.59s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart – Friday evening
Hit’s: Swap Me $3.00 into $2.50 and Hez The One $21 into $15.
Defied The Drift: Northview Dave $12 out to $21 and Arthur Elliot $3.20 out to $4.00.
Missed: Usain Jolt $1.70 into $1.45, and Debt Till We Part $3.80 into $2.90.
Devonport – Sunday evening
Hit’s: Jetcraft $26 into $16 and The Lemondrop Kid $3.70 into $2.80.
Defied The Drift: Keep Playing $7.50 out to $9.00, Ideal Bliss $2.90 out to $3.20 and Nor Westa $7.50 out to $9.00.
Missed: Im Full Tilt $41 into $12, Resolute Ruler $26 into $17 and Laid Back Kenny $26 into $11.
Trial File
Carrick Park– Monday evening
He was the best three-year-old in Tasmania of his age group but after just under three years off the scene Riley Major was back at the trial track on Monday night,
The injury-plagued star won his trial on Monday evening and defeated lowly assessed pacers Molly Malones and Triple Aitch Fella in a mile rate of 2m 16.1s.
Trainer Rohan Hillier gave driving responsibilities to his daughter Makenna who guided him to a three-meter win.
Other winners included; Jaks Teller (2m 3.6), Believe In Forever (2m 6,9s), Smiles (NTT) and Western Glory (2m 5.5s).
Burnie – Monday evening.
Geoffrey Smith prepared both winners at the Burnie trial session on Monday night.
Victoria Pass scored in a 2180-meter trial by a short half head in a mile rate of 2m 9.9s, while Be Good Franklin won a trial under the same conditions in a mile rate of 2m 8.8s.
Week Ahead
It’s a big night of Harness Racing at TAB Park Elwick in Hobart tonight as the Autumn Carnival ramps up another gear.
Tonight’s features include the first heat of the Triple M Tasmania Pacing Cup, heat two of the Aldebaran Park Tasmanian Trotting Cup, the Rexel North Hobart 3YO Fillies Championship and the Yak Ales Tasmanian Guineas,
The Tasmania Cup heat looks to be a great battle with Scooterwillrev stepping out for only the third time this calendar year, while Hobart and Metropolitan Cup winner Harjeet has a 30-meter handicap to overcome.
Only one interstate raider will contest tonight’s heat being the Gavin Kelly trained and driven Blackbird Power from New South Wales. He won a standing start trial at Bacchus Marsh on Saturday by 40-metres.
Still Hungover will commence her Tasmanian Oaks campaign when she steps out in the 3YO Fillies Championship. The Rodney Ashwood pacer is first up since December, 21 and has had no trial ahead of tonight’s assignment.
The Tasmanian Guineas is a race of interest ahead of the Tasmanian Derby. Awayandrideyourself is making his Australian debut after having eight starts in New Zealand, while Cool Water Paddy, another former Kiwi is first up for over a year and is a recent trial winner.
TAB have a $11,773 Quinella Jackpot on Race 1 plus a $1,000 Quaddie Jackpot.
Harness Racing heads to the states North-West Coast on Sunday evening with the Burnie Harness Racing Club staging a seven-race card with the NWTLHA Mares Feature being the feature race where, Gems, a winner two starts ago is the 20-meter backmarker.
At Melton, also on Saturday night, Mark Yole will partner No Apachemee in the opening race, it will be the second start for the pacer in the care of Allan McDonough.
