Talented pacer Cool Water Paddy was apart of a very strong group of three-year-old pacers in Tasmania last season and the gelded son of Ohoka Arizona will step out for the first time as a four-year-old tonight when he lines up in the Tasmanian Veterinary Services Pace in Hobart.
The Juanita McKenzie-trained pacer has drawn well in barrier two for his first-up assignment where he looks set to build on his strong record of three wins and three placings from only seven starts.
His only unplaced effort was a fourth placing in the Tasmanian Derby behind the Australian three-year-old-of the year, Max Delight.
Tonight Cool Water Paddy is aiming for a winning hat-trick after winning his last two starts on 19 April and again 26 April, both in Hobart, and tonight he is first up from a five-month and 20-day break.
Trainer Juanita McKenzie has elected not to take the horse to the trials ahead of tonight’s assignment.
“I don’t go to the trials, I don’t see the point going there going against small fields,” said the Magra-based trainer who is happy with the gelding’s fitness going into tonight’s race but believes there is some improvement to come.
“He will need a couple of runs to be at peak fitness,” she said.
Ricky Duggan who has driven the pacer in all seven starts will take the drive once again tonight in the 1609-metre event.
The lightly raced pacer had his first start in January 2018 but was sidelined through injury before returning to the track in early March this year, and being lightly raced McKenzie expects plenty of improvement to come.
“He is still green and when he learns to be a real racehorse we will be able to see the best of him,” said McKenzie.
The trainer has no main plans going forward this preparation.
“The owners are just happy to watch him go around on a regular bases,” the trainer said.
McKenzie also puts the polish on Thomas Burns in race two.
The gelded son of Shadow Play finished midfield in Launceston last week.
“On his times you would say he was disappointing but I don’t think it was for the work he had to do to get into the race,” explained McKenzie.
“He will benefit from the run last week,” the trainer added.
Gareth Rattray will once again take the drive on the gelding who has done his previous racing in South Australia and Victoria where he has recorded six wins from 24 starts.
Five of those wins have been over the sprint trip where he has a career-best mile rate of 1m 55.0s when winning at Port Pirie last December.
The well-bred pacer is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Milly Perez.
Tonight’s Hobart card also sees Ryley Major and Call Me Hector go head to head once again in race six.
The two pacers have met three times with Ryley Major defeating Call Me Hector on all three occasions, although Call Me Hector did fail to go away in the standing start event in Launceston where he chased hard to catch the field.
Call Me Hector has the advantage in the barrier draw tonight where he looks the early leader from barrier five and will appreciate coming back to mobile start conditions, as will Ryley Major who has drawn outside the front row.
Ryley Major, known as Roman by those around the Rohan Hillier stable will break the $150,000 barrier with a top-three finish.
Tonight’s action will be telecast on Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing Active and via TasracingTV’s Live Stream.
