Harness racing driver Mark Yole will be chasing his second 7BU Burnie Cup (2789m) at the Wivenhoe Paceway in Burnie on Sunday afternoon.
Mark previously won Burnie’s feature race in 2018 with Hez The One (pictured), and he will take the drive on My Way for his father, Wayne, in this year’s $20,000 standing start event.
My way had his first Tasmanian start in October and has had 15 starts for four wins and seven minor placings.
His most recent win was at Carrick Park on 28 December, where he burnt the candle at both ends of the 2150m event, recording a 6.9m win in 1:58.8s.
“I think he has done a terrific job since arriving in the state.
“There wasn’t any relaxing (in the run for his Carrick Park win), that’s for sure. There was plenty of pressure on, and he was just too good,” said Mark.
The Art Major gelding was fourth in the St Mary’s Cup when defeated 2.5m, before finishing sixth at his most recent effort in the North Eastern Pacing Cup at Scottsdale.
“He made a mess of it at St Mary’s, but all of his other starts he has stepped away well. It is hard to see from the replay what happened at St Mary’s, but that has been the only exception among his standing-start attempts.
“He never really got a chance at Scottsdale, and not many do unless they jump on the bunny or something drastic happens.”
Mark will be having his second race drive on the gelding on Sunday, where they will start from the pole draw.
“It all depends on the start. If he happens to lead, I think he would be a massive chance. If he ends up on the leader’s back, he is still a chance. He will just need a bit of luck, the same if he ends up three-back on the fence.”
The recent North Eastern Pacing Cup winner, Horatius Speculo, was installed as the race favourite when fixed odds markets were released. He defeated a similar field to what he meets on Sunday, with his Scottsdale effort being a 13.1m winning margin, when leading all the way, and given the win-based conditions of the race, he will again start from the front mark.
Maebee opened up on the second line of betting from My Way, with last year’s Burnie Cup winner Keayang Fitzy, the first runner in double figures from his 20m backmark.
With the postponement of the Rockhampton thoroughbred meeting, all races will now be shown on Sky Racing 1. Races four, five and six will start earlier than previously advertised at 16:14, 16:44 and 17:19, respectively, to accommodate the Sky Racing 1 schedule.
The first race is set down for 14:34.
