Trainer-driver Rodney Ashwood has experienced the highs and lows of racing in the past week.
On Sunday night he was celebrating Group 2 success in Launceston after Still Hungover led home a stable quinella in the Bandbox. The low appeared yesterday when he was kicked by a horse which resulted in a knee dislocation and fractured femur, according to a post on Facebook by his wife Paige.
Sunny Sanz gave his trainer Kent Rattray and driver John Walters another Sires’ Stakes win when successful in the Globe Derby.
It was a good weekend interstate with season campaigner Rykov Leis winning again at Menangle on Saturday, the Tasmanian Trotting Club syndicate was in the winner's stall at Hamilton on Monday with Bootleg Bert, and Tasmanian Derby winner Max Delight won his heat of the New South Wales Breeders Challenge on Tuesday.
The Stars
Rodney Ashwood - it was a long seven days in the lead up to the Group 2 Bandbox for the Brighton-based trainer-driver, but he was a happy man after Sunday’s final where he trained and drove Still Hungover to victory in the $50,000 event. But to make the win even greater he trained the quinella with Spoilt Sport finishing in second spot. Ashwood in his true style was trying to palm off the accolades that he deserved for his training and driving efforts and instead was wrapped for owner-breeder Corey Hazelwood.
Sunny Sanz - continued on his winning way when the star three-year-old was too strong for his rivals in the Group 2 Globe Derby Stakes in Launceston on Sunday night. It was the third consecutive season that Rattray and Walters have teamed up for a Tasmanian Sires’ Stakes victory. Rattray was full of praise for the efforts from the team at the Longford Equine Clinic post-race for their efforts in getting the star pacer back to the track after his recent injury.
Robert “Doc” Gillie - made the long trek from his Burnie base to Hobart on Friday with two runners. The trip was certainly worth it with Canbe Doc producing a brilliant debut performance to win his heat of the Elderslie Horse Care Sweepstakes. Gillie then took one runner to Launceston on Sunday with Maybe Jack who pulled off a handy plunge to lead all the way to give him a weekend training double.
Gareth Rattray - was the standout driver of the weekend with five winners to his credit. The win on Sea Sky in the opening race in Launceston was his 1300th Australian win, The Latrobe-based horseman has also driven winners in New Zealand and in Norway during the 2009 World Drivers Championship.
A Spanish Dance - recorded her first career win when she led all the way to win the first fillies heat of the Elderslie Horse Care Sweepstakes on Friday.
Multiple Winners
Hobart – Friday evening
Ben Yole - training treble: My Ultimate Major, Shestryingtactics and Our Quinn,
Rodney Ashwood - driving double: Chasing Cheetahs and A Spanish Dance,
Gareth Rattray - driving double: Ima A Lister and Canbe Doc.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Gareth Rattray - driving treble: Sea Sky, Maybe Jack and Lutetia Midfrew,
Mark Yole - driving double: Our Quinn and Perfect Mach,
Ben Yole - training double: Our Quinn and Perfect Mach.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Hobart – Friday evening
Shestryingtactics 57.30s, Ima A Lister 57.36s, Artarama 57.40s, Wattabout Spangher 57.56s and Nickys Logic 57.58s.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Reign Of Pain 56.61s, Goggo Gee Gee 57.00s, Monarkmac 57.14s, Art Frenzy 57.19s and Hafter 57.21s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart – Friday evening
Hits: My Ultimate Major $2.05 into $1.45, Shestryingtactics $31 into $21 and Chasing Cheetahs $3.40 into $2.80.
Defied The Drift: Ima A Lister $12 out to $17, A Spanish Dance $.50 out to $13 and Our Quinn $7.00 out to $7.50.
Missed: Tizyalator $4.40 into $3.00, Vonns Angel $3.40 into $2.70, Hez The One $3.20 into $2.60 and Nick A Grin $3.10 into $2.50.
Launceston – Sunday evening
Hits: Sunny Sanz $1.30 into $1.12 and Maybe Jack $31 into $11.
Defied The Drift: Sea Sky $11 out to $15, The Floyd $8.50 out to $10, Our Quinn $5.50 out to $6.00 and Lutetia Midfrew $2.70 out too $3.40.
Missed: Machitelli $3.00 into $2.40, Hear The Call $41 into $26, Guys Bettor Bet $41 into $26, Exciteusinthecity $71 into $31, Art Frenzy $5.00 into $2.50, Winknblink $31 into $12 and Ifbutzandmaybes $11 into $8.50.
Trial File
Hobart - Monday evening
Laredo Torpedo warmed up for his interstate mission this week when he was a 30-metre trial winner on Monday night in Hobart.
The Juanita McKenzie trained pacer defeated his stablemate in a mile rate of 2m 0.6s for 2090 metres.
Laredo Torpedo will contest the opening race at Melton on Saturday night.
Other winners: Finn Mac Kee (No Time Taken), Blame It On Me (2m 2.2s) and Brystabella (2m 3.8s).
Week Ahead
The four-year-old Tasmania Sires’ Stakes commences in Devonport on Friday evening.
Race One is the prelude of the Granny Smith for the mares where a field of eight horses will face the starter.
It has taken Twenty Two Karat 23 starts to break her maiden status, but she has been in top form winning eight races this season.
The daughter of Always A Virgin has drawn outside of the front row in the prelude, the next highest pacer in the race on assessment is 2017 Evicus winner Ideal Bliss who has drawn in barrier five.
Two heats of the Raider Stakes will be held at the meeting, with the first heat being race seven, where you can make a case for all six starters in the event.
The last placegetter will be listed as the emergency for the $50,000 Group 2 final on 23 June.
The second heat looks to be a one-horse race with last season's Globe Derby winner Izaha, who is expected to go around as the shortest price favourite of the weekend.
Race one is scheduled to start at 16:55 and all races will be televised on Sky Racing 2 and tasracing.com.au’s Live Stream
The last two heats of the Elderslie Horse Care Sweepstakes will be held in Hobart on Sunday night.
The first race on the card is for the colts and geldings where last-start winners Kohanah and Watchmylips clash for the first time.
Kohanah is the winner of two races from three career starts, with his last win coming in the $15,000 Golden Slipper on April 12.
Watchmylips, is another smart youngster from the in-form Rodney Ashwood stable and is the winner in two of his four race track appearances. He won at his most recent start in Launceston on 17 May, and was defeated three metres in a trial in Hobart on Monday night.
The fillies heat is race seven on the card where Blame It On Me will be chasing her third win, but she will have to overcome a wide draw in the 1609-metre event.
Another highlight on the Hobart card is the Hobart Signwriters Pace where Ryley Major comes up against the in-form Call Me Hector.
The action in Hobart can be viewed on Sky Racing 1 and Tasracing.com.au’s Live Stream with the first race scheduled for 16:37.
Interstate this week at metropolitan venues:
Melton - Saturday night
Race 1 Horse 5 Manganello - Tasmanian bred,
Horse 10 War Dan - part-owned by Tasmanian interest and
Horse 13 Laredo Torpedo - trained by Juanita McKenzie and owned by Tasmanian interest,
Race 2 Horse 2 Damitsam - trained and driven by Justin Campell and owned by Tasmanian interest,
Race 4 Horse 1 Boltnmach - trained and driven by Justin Campell and owned by Tasmanian interest,
and Horse 10 No Apachemee owned by Tasmanian interest.
Menangle - Saturday night
Race 10 Horse 7 Im Jaks Teller - part-owned by Tasmanian interest,
Albion Park - Saturday night
Race 3 Horse 9 Willbe Doc - Tasmanian bred.
