Night One of the Easter Cup Carnival was run in extremely wet conditions in Launceston on Sunday where Isaac and Harjeet were easy winners of the heats of Tasmania’s richest race of the season.
It’s is important to consider the heavy track conditions when assessing the form out of the meeting which included Im Compliant and Dasher Houli continuing their good form of late.
It was also a strong day’s racing in Hobart last Friday afternoon where there was a couple of well-supported runners greeting the judge first.
This Saturday night sees an outstanding 10-race program for the Launceston Pacing Club’s premier night which has been well supported by trainers and owners with full fields across the night.
The Stars
Mark Reggett – is having a month to remember with his small team and was rewarded with a weekend double with Do It For Dave in Hobart on Friday and Dasher Houli in Launceston on Sunday.
Ricky Duggan – produced two copybook drives on Sunday evening including Isaac in the opening heat of the Easter Cup.
Rohan Hillier – out of his last 43 starters as a trainer on the Launceston track alone in the last 12-months, only ten of his stable runners have missed a top-three finish. Hillier didn’t let his strike rate down with a training and driving double last Sunday.
Todd Rattray – took driving honours on Sunday with a driving treble. In Launceston for the past 12-months Rattray drives a winner in every 3.9 drives.
Multiple Winners
Hobart – Friday
Rohan Hadley– driving double; Shadow Ross and Sophias Angel
Launceston – Sunday
Todd Rattray– training and driving double with; Juniper and Harjeet. Driving treble with Dasher Houli.
Ricky Duggan – driving double; Isaac and Jakes A Joy.
Rohan Hillier – training and driving double; Im Compliant and Dufrense.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action in Hobart on Friday.
Washies Chance 57.83, Fortino 58.35, Paint The Wind 58.40, Karalta Demon 58.87, Shadow Ross and The Dip 58.61
View the sectionals across the eight-race program here.
And in Launceston on Sunday.
Im Compliant 58.34, Juniper 58.37, Usain Jolt 58.52, Isaac 58.74 and Followthewind 58.90.
Click here to view all the sectionals from the meeting and when doing so consider the extremely heavy track conditions from the rain in the lead up to the meeting.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart
Hit: Do It For Dave $3.30 into $2.50 and Washies Chance $2.90 into $2.50
Defied The Drift: Shadow Ross $4.60 out to $6.00, Reason To Grin $3.30 out to $3.90 and Fortino $4.40 out to $5.00.
Missed: Striker Jim (5th) $10 into $7.50
Launceston
Hit: Jakes A Joy $8.00 into $6.50.
Defied The Drift: Johns Legacy $71 out to $81, Isaac $8.50 out to $10 and Dasher Houli $3.90 out to $4.40.
Missed: Queens Advocate $5.50 into $4.60 and El Jays Monza $17 into $13
Black Booker
Buster William
It was a tough night to assess the form going forward due to the track conditions but there was a lot to like about the run of Buster William. From barrier two on the second-row driver, Mark Yole kept driving forward to settle in the one-out one-back trail until the horse that was racing in front of him worked to the lead resulting in him racing outside the leader for the final mile. Working to the lead at the 700-metre mark Yole attempted to outsprint his rivals over the final 250 metres and was still in front till the final 10-metres when talented five-year-old Im Compliant put the nose in front to defeat Buster William for the second start in a row. I acknowledge Buster William is already the winner of six races from 24-starts but there is a win in him very shortly.
Watch the replay of Sunday’s race here.
Trial File
Devonport on Monday
Three trials were staged at the Devonport Showgrounds on Monday where the Shelley Barnes trained Mister Last recorded the quickest winning mile rate of the night in 2:03.7 when winning a combined two and three-year-old trial.
Mister Last is a gelded son of Washington Vc and was driven by Paul Ashwood who scored by half a metre over Maybe Jack with 29.5-metres back to the third placegetter, Kaycee.
The other two trials were won by Selling The Dream (2:08.3) and Chirac (2:06.0).
Week Ahead
The $75,000 Group 2 Easter Cup is the richest harness race in Tasmania for the 2017/18 season, and like always the cup has brought together an open and competitive field.
Harjeet has opened up the short price favourite at $1.65 over the other heat winner Isaac at $5.50 with Star Chamber and Lets Elope on the next line in betting at $10. Stagger Lee, Mister Lennox and Queens Advocate round out those that are under the $20 quote.
The 10-race program gets underway way at 18:22 on Saturday with Tasracing’s hosted live stream coverage commencing at 17:55.
