Tasracing have taken the opportunity of a Friday afternoon slot on Sky Racing 1 for the six-race card in Hobart this week.
The first race is scheduled for 13:38, and Oatlands-based trainer Steve Lukac will saddle Heres Henry in the 40 to 44 rating event, who is searching for back-to-back wins.
Heres Henry was one of two winners Lukac prepared at the most recent Hobart meeting on 4 April.
“It was a nice change after running down the track all the time,” Lukac said about his recent success.
Heres Henry, a five-year-old gelded son of Lincoln Royal, made a good impression as a two-year-old, winning two races and recording four minor placings. Despite his good two-year-old season, the gelding has won just three races since.
“He went quite well as a younger horse. He was one of those bulletproof types that you would put in the race and would do everything right. He was never blessed with a lot of ability, but he tries hard, and I think he grows a leg when he is in front.”
The gelding’s most recent win saw him record a new personal best-winning mile rate of 1:57.6s when leading all the way over the mile trip.
“I would never have thought he would run that time, but kudos to the Hobart track staff. In the last few weeks, the track has been prepared really well, and they have been running good times. I was taken aback by what he ran, that’s for sure.
Lukac was unsure if the pacer could find the top in Friday’s 2090m event, where claiming novice driver Jack Watson will have his fifth consecutive drive on the pacer.
“I don’t think we will be able to cross Sapphire Gambler this time drawing side by side, but he will be right up there with them. It’s the same rating race, and there are no standouts in it, and I expect him to run a good race again.”
Lukac’s team has been reduced to five horses, and two of his horses are set to continue their racing careers in South Australia.
“Kerala Star and Lynard Skynryd have gone to Adelaide. They got to what I considered a hard mark, and Greg (West, owner) has horses in Adelaide, and he has sent them over to Anthony Robinson to give them a change of scenery,” said Lukac.
Robinson currently has two former Lukac-prepared runners, Boulder City and Somehowsomeway, who have won four and two races, respectively since moving to South Australia.
