The two-year-olds were on show in Hobart last Friday evening with the finals of the Elderslie Horse Care and Spelling Sweepstakes being staged.
Enterprising Milly gave driver Ricky Duggan his fourth consecutive Fillies Final win and it was the third win in the past four years for her trainer Paul Hill.
In the Colts and Geldings final we witnessed Resurgent Storm follow in the footsteps of his older half-brother Resurgent Spirit in winning the $20,000 feature. The Betterthancheddar colt is trained by New Norfolk based horseman Rodger Whitmore.
This week the sole meeting in the state will be in Launceston on Friday for the finals of the three-year-old Sires' Stakes with the Fillies contesting the 6ty Bandbox while the colts and geldings will do battle in the Roberts Equine Supplies Globe Derby. Punters are warned not to be caught off guard with the first race set down for 16:44.
The Stars
Ricky Duggan - become the first driver to win both Elderslie Horse Care & Spelling Sweepstakes Finals in the same year. He won his fourth consecutive fillies final on the Paul Hill trained Enterprising Milly before teaming up with Rodger Whitmore to win the colts and geldings final with Resurgent Storm. The hall of fame reinsman drove a total of four winners on the Hobart programme.
Paul Hill and Rodger Whitmore - both trainers continued their strong record in juvenile races in recent years and added another Sweepstakes final each to their resume.
Call Her Julie - extremely tough and honest mare who won her sixth race of the season in the free for all on Friday night. The Lombo Pocket Watch mare worked forward to find the lead in a 27.6secs opening quarter in the 1609-metre event. The six-year-old mare was driven by her trainer-owner Matthew Cooper.
Conor Crook - concession driver who controlled the race from outside the leader on the Deborah Williams trained Jaccka Len in the C2-C3 Pace in Hobart on Friday. He then backed up with a brilliant win on Im Paige in Launceston who recorded her thirteenth race win.
Ben and Tim Yole - the race book shows Ben as the man in charge, but the states leading trainer was away on holidays last week where Tim was left running his older brothers stables where Team Yole trained four winners on the card across the seven races.
Rohan Hillier - broke the half-century of wins in the sulky for the season in Launceston on Sunday where he drove four winners to take his season total to 51 victories.
Multiple Winners
Hobart - Friday
Ricky Duggan - driving quartet; Jaks Teller, Enterprising Milly, Resurgent Storm & Krafty Boy.
Paul Ashwood - training double; Real Diamond and Krafty Boy.
Launceston - Sunday
Ben Yole - training quartet; Regal Major, Sheer Strength, Washies Chance and Im Paige.
Rohan Hillier - driving treble; Lynniemach, Sheer Strength and Overpowering.
Troy McDonald - driving double; Regal Major and Washies Chance.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action in Hobart on Friday
Usain Jolt 56.91, Jaccka Len 57.14, Koolaz Elvis 57.34, Spoilt Sport 57.43 & Jaks Teller 57.64.
Launceston on Sunday night
Chief Destroyer 57.68, Rocknrollhighlight 57.95, Fortino 58.01, Sign Of A Tyne 58.03 and Grinable 58.1.
View all Tasmanian harness racing sectional data here.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart
Hit's: Call Her Julie $4.60 into $4.40
Defied The Drift: Jaccka Len $6 out to $6.50
Missed: Plata O Plomo $4.60 into $4.40, Destreos $6 into $5.50
Launceston
Hit's: Lynniemach $6 into $5.50, Sheer Strength $9.50 into $7.50
Defied The Drift: Washies Chance $2.70 out to $3.60
Missed: Tisu Toota $3.90 into $2.80
Black Booker
Rattlenhum
To say this pacer was unlucky would be an understatement. From barrier five trainer-driver Kate MacLeod went forward looking for a spot in the running line but she was unsuccessful in doing so. MacLeod was then restraining Rattlenhum to the tail end of the field but with only two drivers outside of the leader electing to go on the pegs it was going to be a long way back in the capacity field. MacLeod stayed midfield but three wide until the 700-metre mark where she allowed Rattlenhum to work forward, the pacer hit the front at the 150-metre mark momentarily before being beaten for speed by Lynniemach and Our Percius.
Rattlenhum's last half mile was recorded in 59.55secs on the Tasracing Calculated Sectionals which was the third quickest of the race.
Watch the replay here.
Trial File
Carrick Park – Saturday
In the opening trial, we saw Our Summer Vacation become the first trotter to trial in the state since the announcement of the reintroduction of Trotting races in Tasmania from July 1. The T9 assessed trotter is trained by Todd Rattray and was driven by Germaine Boisrame who allowed the Dream Vacation gelding to trot all the way to finish in last position in a strong trial that was won by free-for-all pacer Scooterwillrev, there was no time taken for the trial.
The remaining trials were won by Art Frenzy (No Time Taken), Solid As A Rock (2:03.7) and Laconic Jamane (2:15.2).
Week Ahead
Friday in Launceston the three-year-old Sires’ Stakes finals will be held.
In the 6ty Bandbox, the Emma Stewart trained Nostra Beach will start a very short-priced favourite in the Group 3 event. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere won the prelude on May, 14, eased down by 49.2-metres in a slick mile rate of 1min 58.7secs. Nostra Beach has drawn barrier five for Friday's assignment.
The Roberts Equine Supplies Globe Derby Final is a more even race on paper. Dufrense was a handy heat winner who hasn't been defeated in four starts this preparation. The Rohan Hillier trained pacer has drawn wide in barrier six. The remaining horses that finished in the top three placings in the heats have all drawn the second row including the Todd Rattray trained and driven pacer Izaha who led all the way to win his heat while Feelin Dusty finished a brave second behind Izaha.
The meeting will feature a hosted live stream coverage on tasracing.com.au with the first of 11-races commencing at 16:44.
