TASSIE pacing sensation Triedtotellya is primed for his “Grand Final.”
The injury-plagued gelding has never raced better and has peaked at the right time to overcome a bad barrier in Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup in Hobart.
It would be the biggest win of his interrupted career and springboard him into some serious interstate targets, including the Ladbrokes Brisbane Inter Dominion series at Albion Park in July.
“He seems really well,” trainer-driver Rohan Hillier said. “Obviously the draw (gate 12) isn’t great, but we’ve had some good draws along the way, so we’ll have to deal with this one.
“He’s had no issues and he was a bit fresh when he won his heat (of the Tasmania Cup) two weeks ago because it was his first race in five weeks. He’ll be better this week.
“Even though he was keen last time, he still won well. We just don’t want any bad luck from that draw.”
Hillier rates veteran local The Shallows (gate 11) and talented former Kiwi pacer Dalton Shard (nine) as the hardest to beat.
“On the heats, The Shallows would have been the main threat, but he’s drawn poorly out the back with us, so I’d lean to Dalton Shard as the one to beat now. He’s building with each run over here,” he said.
Hillier is relieved from his own stance that there are no mainland raiders in the race, but hopes that changes for the greater good of Tasmanian harness racing in years to come.
“It makes it easier for us, but I think having heats and the timing of if, so close around the Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile, isn’t ideal,” he said.
“I’m hearing they might do away with the heats and run it as a one-off race and look for a better time slot next year. That would be great for the race.”
Hillier stressed any broader plans for Triedtotellya were on hold until after Saturday night.
“This is the big target, we’ll get through that and then look at the bigger picture, but we have said the Inter Dominion is a target, all going well,” he said.
There is also speculation at least one WA-based slot holder in the $1.25 million Group1 Nullarbor has approached Triedtotellya’s owners.
“I’ll leave that for them to talk about after this weekend,” Hillier said.
The Nullarbor is at Gloucester Park on April 17 and, at this stage, the only confirmed “raider” is reigning Miracle Mile hero Don Hugo for trainer-driver Luke McCarthy.
Menangle trainer Jason Grimson has touted recent stable addition Chase A Dream as a possible runner.
PHOTO: Eliza Howlett
