The TAB Racing Center Launceston and TAB Park Elwick were the venues for harness racing in Tasmania last week.
Izaha, Yatsenyuk Leis, Beam Me Up Chopper and Iden Forest all found the winner's circle first as they continue their paths to the $50,000 Raider Stakes in Devonport with the heats of the series commencing next month.
Devonport is the venue for harness racing today with four $12,000 features on the card before the action turns to Launceston on Sunday night.
The Stars
I Wanna Rock– the six-year-old gelding was back in the winner's circle in Hobart on Sunday evening. The winner of four races has caused his trainer-driver Sam Rawnsley plenty of headaches across his seven-start career. I Wanna Rock won three of his five starts as a three and four-year-old before he had just over one year and nine months off the scene due to a sesamoid ligament injury.
Call Me Hector - Oatlands trainer-driver Matthew Cooper was planning on having the winter months off, but a phone call from David Jack offering Cooper Call Me Hector changed that plan. The Art Major entire stepped out for the first time under the care of Cooper on Sunday night in Hobart and he couldn’t have been more impressive racing outside the leader to win in a time of 1m 57.6s for the mile trip.
Blackbird Power - finally produced his best standing start manners when he made it back-to-back wins in Hobart. Driver Ricky Duggan took the Gavin Kelly-trained pacer to the lead mid-race and the gelded son of Mach Three pulled away late to win by just over eight metres.
Shaun Kennedy - only prepares a small team of pacers and was back in the winner's circle with Delightful Junie who caused an upset win in the Yak Ales Pace when she defeated the $1.30 favourite Western Glory.
Burning Up The Floor – broke through for his first win at his 10th racetrack appearance in the opening race on Sunday, when he narrowly defeated Vladimir Hall.
Tasbred Four-year-olds - Izaha, Yatsenyuk Leis, Beam Me Up Chopper and Iden Forest were all weekend winners as the $50,000 Raider Stakes in Devonport looms closer on June 23.
Multiple Winners
Launceston – Friday evening
No trainer or driver recorded multiple wins across the seven races.
Hobart– Sunday evening
Again no trainer or driver recorded multiple wins across the seven races.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Launceston – Friday evening
Courageous Katee 57.64s, Rowley 58.08s, Beam Me Up Chopper 58.18s, Watchmylips 58.28s and Perfect Mach 58.48s.
Hobart – Sunday evening
Reign Of Pain 57.74s, Got The Goods 58.09s, Hez The One 58.10s, Call Me Hector 58.21s and I Wanna Rock 58.27s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Launceston – Friday evening
Hits: El Jays Monet $51 into $31 and Jeans Mattjesty $3.00 into $2.30.
Defied The Drift: Punchinello $5.50 out to $8.50, Iden Forest $3.50 out to $6.00 and Real Diamond $4.00 out to $4.40.
Missed: Diamond Grace $4.20 into $3.70, Shadow Storm $61 into $19 and Believe In Forever $11 into $7.00.
Hobart – Sunday evening
Hits: Burningupthefloor $3.40 into $3.00, I Wanna Rock $2.40 into $2.25 and Call Me Hector $4.80 into $3.50.
Defied The Drift: Delightful Junie $18 out to $21 and Blackbird Power $1.75 out to $1.90.
Missed: Similan Beach $3.40 into $2.80 and Chief Destroyer $7.50 into $6.00.
Trial File
Devonport - Monday evening
Five trials were staged on Monday where the Craig Hayes-trained and driven Brookwillrev continued on her winning way.
The daughter of Pet Rock was able to lead from barrier six over the 1930-metre journey and she proved too good for her rivals over the concluding stages to win by three metres over Better Amour in a mile rate of 2m 6.5s.
Remaining trials were won by Heavenly Rock (2m 5.5s), Smokey Mac (2m 7.9s), Shadow Affair (2m 3.1s) and Spot Eight (2m 2.5s).
Week Ahead
Tonight racing returns to the Devonport Showgrounds with four $12,000 feature events being staged on the 8-race card.
The $12,000 CUB Devonport Belmont for the two-year-olds opens the card where the Craig Hayes-trained and driven Brookwillrock will step out for the first time, the daughter of Pet Rock has drawn the pole position and is the winner of five out of her six trials, including her most recent trial on the Devonport track on May 6.
Race Four is the Degree C Quality for the open class pacers where the smart Ryley Major has found outside of the front row in the 1930-metre event. The gelded son of Art Major flew home late to finish in third spot behind Franco Tristan in the Group 2 Easter Cup at his most recent start.
The Sky Racing Sheffield Cup and the Max McCormack Pace are the other highlights on the 8-race card which commences at 16:15.
Sunday night harness racing will be held in Launceston where Sunny Sanz returns to the track after an injury-forced lay off in race six. The Kent Rattray-trained three-year-old won all three of his starts last season and was an 80-metre trial winner at Carrick Park on April 22. Sunday’s race is no easy task as he takes on talented filly Spoilt Sport who has race fitness on her side, including a second placing in the Tasmanian Oaks two starts ago.