Tasmanian harness racing’s premier night will take place at TAB Park Elwick in Hobart on Saturday night with the Group 2 Triple M Tasmania Pacing Cup, Group 3 TAB Tasmanian Derby, Group 3 TAB Tasmanian Oaks, the state's premier mares' race, the George Johnson, and the inaugural Tasmanian Trotting Cup all part of a massive 10-race card.
The second heat of the Tasmania Pacing Cup was staged on Sunday evening which was taken out by Resurgent Spirit who sprinted home well to win.
Also, mlast week the state's leading driver, Mark Yole, extended his lead on the top of the state's drivers' title when he achieved a season milestone at Devonport on Friday.
The Stars
Resurgent Spirit- the most winningest pacer at TAB Park Elwick was back in the winners stall when he was too strong for his rivals in the second heat of the Tasmania Cup on Sunday evening. He was superbly driven by former Tasmanian Alex Ashwood, who will also take the drive in Saturday's Group 2 Final.
Eric Jacobson – the Brighton based trainer continued his excellent run of recent weeks when two-year-old filly, Missin Rock won on debut on Sunday. The daughter of Petrock was able to spear straight to the early lead to win well.
Arthur Elliott - Todd Rattray trained and driven four-year-old staked his claim for Saturday's Eric Reece Memorial Final with a dominant win in his heat last week. It was the second win in a row at only his third race start for the gelded son of Major In Art.
Bianca Heenan - the states leading female trainer was at it again on Sunday night when she produced Twenty Two Karat to a brilliant first up win in the second heat of the Light Harness Tasmania Cup.
Conor Crook - became the latest Tasmanian driver to outdrive his concession claim when he steered Jackson Neptune to victory in the fourth heat of the Allen Williams Memorial.
Mark Yole - the states leading driver recorded his 50th win in Devonport on Friday night on Siedra Caleb who completed a driving double for him in the programme.
Multiple Winners
Devonport – Friday evening
Conor Crook - driving double; Buster William and Poker Storm.
Mark Yole - driving double; Gems and Siedra Caleb.
Ben Yole - training treble; Gems, Miss Condoleezza and Siedra Caleb.
Hobart – Sunday evening
No trainer or driver recorded multiple wins.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action.
Devonport– Friday evening
Chirac 59.22s, Full Speed Ahead 59.25s, Aitutaki 59.33s, Fortino 59.34s and All Style Sammy 59.46s.
Hobart– Sunday evening
Star Chamber 55.44s (the quickest individual last half mile recorded at Hobart since the Tasracing Calculated Sectionals commenced in December 2015), Resurgent Spirit 55.47, Sicario 55.85s, Shelby Bromac 55.91s and War Dan 56.06s.
Top five outside of the Tasmania Cup Heat Two; Perfect Mach 58.28s, Max Richter 58.34s, Missin Rock 58.40s, Colby Sanz 58.41s and He Got Rocked 58.74s.
View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.
Tasracing Official Price
Devonport– Friday evening
Hit’s: Jaminas Joy $3.30 into $2.60.
Defied The Drift: Crackerjacks Judge $2.20 out to $2.90, Gems $9.00 out to $17, Poker Storm $4.40 out to $5.50, Devil Of Tyne $4.80 out to $6.50 and Siedra Caleb $21 out to $31.
Missed: Laid Back Kenny $14 into $9.50, Lead Singer $3.20 into $2.50, Aitutaki $31 int $18,
Hobart– Sunday evening
Hit’s: Shadow Ross $5.50 into $3.30 and Smilin Geoff $2.90 into $2.00.
Defied The Drift: Missin Rock $3.60 out to $4.40, Arthur Elliott $1.45 out to $1.60, Resurgent Spirit $21 out to $41 and Give Me The Night $8.00 out to $12.
Missed: He Got Rocked $3.30 into $2.90, Beachboy Butch $12 into $6.00, Believe In Forever $4.20 into $3.80 and The Shallows $3.40 into $3.00.
Trial File
Carrick Park – Monday evening
Ryley Major continued his come back to racing when he won again at his second trial back, the injury-plagued pacer hasn't started in a race since he contested a race at Melton July 2016 and Monday nights trial will top him off nicely for his first up mission in Launceston on Sunday night.
Monday's trial over the 2150-metre trip seen Ryley Major record a mile rate of 2m 6.9s. The first half of the last mile was run at a slow tempo, which turned the trial into a sprint home of a final quarter of 27.7s.
Riley Major defeated El Jays Mystery by one metre with Sea Double Ugrant a further three metres away third.
Other winners on Monday night included; Manly Mach (2m 12.7s), My Jackofdiamonds (2m 10.9s), A Spanish Dance (2m 8.4s), Alaphilippe (2m 8.6s), Dufrense (2m 8.2s) and Dusty Martini (2m 11.2s).
Week Ahead
Tasmania’s Premier race night will take place this Saturday night at TAB Park Elwick in Hobart.
The $75,000 Triple M Tasmania Pacing Cup at Group 2 level is the states flagship race for the season and it has brought together a brilliant and even field compared to the past few years.
TAB.com.au opened up Sicario as the $3.50 favourite for Saturday nights Triple M Tasmania Pacing Cup ahead of War Dan at $3.60, with Scooterwillrev on the third line of betting at $4.00.
Shelby Bromac ($5.00) and Harjeet ($5.50) were the only horses under double figures in the opening market. You can read a runner by runner preview on the Tasmania Cup here.
Saturday night also sees the running of the Group 3 TAB Tasmanian Derby where NSW Derby winner Max Delight will start a short price favourite.
The inaugural Aldebaran Park Tasmanian Trotting Cup will also have a short price favourite with the Eric Jacobson trained Majestic Ess Jay being an impressive winner of his two Tasmanian starts, which have both been in the two heats of the $14,000 event.
The two feature races for the girls are more tricky events.
In the Group 3, TAB Tasmanian Oaks Victorian trained pacers Enchanted Stride, Delightful Jazz and Arabella Star will take on an even Tasmanian contingent which is headlined by Still Hungover, who was a terrific winner of the 3YO Fillies Championship.
The $20,000 Yak Ales George Johnson for the open class mares sees the inform Western Debt drawn barrier one for visiting Victorian trainer Adam Kelly.
The Hobart card kicks off at 6:22 pm and both Tasracing.com.au’s Live Stream Service and Sky Racing will have an on track hosting’s.
Harness Racing then heads to Launceston on Sunday night.
As mentioned in the Trial File Ryley Major is back at the track after having close to three years off the race track due to injury.
The star two and three-year-old has won ten of his 15-starts that includes the 2016 Tasmanian Derby and the Group 3 Globe Derby Stakes that year.
He has impressed in two recent trials, and many of the states racing fans are happy to see him back on the track.
Ryley Major will contest race five on Sunday at 20:10 with the first race set down for 18:13.
Interstate this week we see inform Plata O Plomo step out at Menangle for the first time on Friday night in a M0 event for new trainer Peter Russo.
