Reinsman Wade Rattray is well on the way to claiming his first King Island drivers premiership after notching up his sixth win of the summer season on Saturday. The in-form driver will be hoping to continue on his winning form in Launceston on Sunday, when he takes the reins on last start winner Rockandahardplace in the opening heat of the Harry Holgate Memorial.
The four-year-old gelding was a handy winner in Hobart last start on 3 January and was runner up his two starts prior including a placing in the Tasmanian Country Championship at Carrick Park in late December.
“He has been going well of late, since he ran in the Globe Derby in Launceston he has kept improving and has been racing consistently well,” said Rattray.
“His effort last start was really good, to work off the gate out three and four-wide and then press on and find the front and still win was pretty good, “ added the driver where they had to survive a protest for the win.
On Sunday, Rockandahardplace, who is trained by Wade’s father Kent, has drawn barrier four in a race that is restricted to horses with no more than four lifetime wins. Effectively that heat of the Harry Holgate Memorial is a rating 47 to 62 event with Rockandahardplace rated at 52.
“He is racing slightly higher rated horses on Sunday which is the direction he is going in, and if he is to win a couple of more races he will have to take a few of them on in the near future anyway, but it will be interesting to see how he will handle the next step” explained Rattray.
The early market has Rockandahardplace as the $3.10 second elect behind Kivik who hit the line well at his first-up effort last Friday week at $3.00. Last start winners Machbev ($4.00) and Rock The Casbolt ($6.50) are the only other runners at a single figure quote.
Heat two of the Harry Holgate Memorial looks also to be a competitive heat with not much between Kadar and Lorimermajor in early markets.
Sunday night’s Launceston card commences at 18:10 and will be televised on Sky Racing 1 and TasracingTV.
