Apple Isle’s progressive talent strikes

There is no doubt that three-year-old gelding Lancelot is the biggest progressive harness racing talent of the age group in the island state at present. Again, we were reminded of that with another dominant win in Launceston on Sunday night.

In what was the toughest test to date in a rating 54 to 58 event, punters weren’t too concerned with the rise in class, sending the gelded son of Roll With Joe out as the $1.24 favourite from barrier two, where he was able to find the lead before giving his rivals the slip at the 500-metre point to win hard held.

“He has a good turn of speed so he can get a break on them, and he has done it easy over the line his last two starts now,” said trainer-driver Todd Rattray about the pacer who still had the earplugs in for his 12.2-metre victory in a personal best winning mile rate of 1:58.7 for the 2200 metre trip.

Lancelot, who is undefeated in three starts this season, after winning one of his seven starts as a two-year-old with Rattray believing the break between preparations being an advantage for the pacer.

“He has got a bit stronger and mature since his two-year-old season. Obviously, it will get harder now,” said Rattray.

Rattray had no firm plans for Lancelot going forward, but he did say there were no interstate trips on the card at present.

“I reckon we will give him a little break now and get him ready for some of the classics later in the season.”

The three-year-old is out of the Jeremes Jet mare Delmi, a half-sister to dual Inter Dominion winner Beautide.

The win of Lancelot was the second-leg of a training and driving double for the in-form Rattray, who scored with Kadar earlier in the night.

“He had been working a treat at home but hadn’t been bringing that to the races,” said the Longford-based trainer-driver.

“He got a good run tonight, and I think there is a pretty good horse there when he is right,” he added.

By Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing