Over the next few months, Tasmanian harness racing fans will have to keep an eye on what time the Sunday meeting starts.
With the state’s thoroughbred night racing season kicking off this month in Launceston, several harness meetings will shift from Sunday night to Sunday afternoon to capitalise on the higher turnover slot when available.
Sunday afternoon’s meeting in Launceston features the inaugural running of the Wayne Rattray Two Year Old Classic (1680m), one year and one day after his passing.
Wayne’s journey in harness racing began in 1974 when he drove his first winner, First Credit, before going on to be involved with a production line of top Tasmanian pacers.
Sunday’s $20,000 race sees Wayne’s son Kent prepare Sniper Sanz from barrier one.
His grandson, Gareth, will take the reins on the Wayne Yole-trained Soho Tuxedo, while another grandson, Todd, trains two runners in the race: Rainbow Ranger, whom he will also drive, and Qualify, which is owned by Todd’s brother, Adam.
“It has been a bit of a target race, more so for Rainbow Ranger as he isn’t Tasbred, and being Pop’s race, I hope we are in the finish,” said Todd.
Todd will drive Rainbow Ranger, given that he is a part-owner of the Bettors Delight gelding, who hasn’t raced since his Sweepstakes win in Hobart on 2 August, but he has since had a trial at Carrick Park on 20 September, finishing third.
“It’s good to have him back. He felt good in his trial and seems well at home.
“I only just followed them around (in his trial), and made sure everything was right with him, and he finished on the bit,” said Todd.
Todd’s other runner, Qualify, will be driven by Liam Older, who has a 47.1% top-three placing strike rate when driving runners from Todd’s stable.
Qualify, a gelded son of Poster Boy, has won two of his seven starts, including the recent TTC Life Members Graduate in Hobart.
“The last six weeks, he has kept improving, and his work at home has been really good, and I reckon he is the one to beat.
“He should get a good run through them early,” said Todd.
Todd has another six runners from his stable engaged across the program, including Star Major in the second race, a Free For All over 2200m.
The pacer finished third in the Show Cup last week, where he started off 20m, and was checked on the first turn.
“I think that was his best run since being in Tassie. He has had a light week and is a horse that loves his racing,” Todd said.
