$20,000 feature decided in stewards’ room

The inaugural running of harness racing’s $20,000 Sinbad Bay Final in Launceston on Sunday night was decided in the stewards room after an action-packed final 200m.

Race favourite Magician led into the home straight before veering sharply out onto Mayleejae Eagle, who was racing to his outside, subsequently falling, before quickly picking himself up to complete the course.

A protest by Mayleejae Eagle’s driver Mark Yole against Magician (Todd Rattray) was dismissed by stewards.

However, they elected to relegate Magician who was first past the post back behind Mayleejae Eagle who was the last runner to finish, under AHR Rule 66 (g) which states; A horse may be disqualified from a race or placed in a lower finishing position in a race if the horse being in the home straight and having a clear uninterrupted run to the post, changes course and thereby prejudices or advantages the chances of another runner.

As a result, it was the Adrian Duggan-prepared Mista Eagle being promoted to first, resulting in an upset win at odds of $41.

Driver Ricky Duggan elected to drive for luck through the field from his second-row draw, before getting an inside split in the home straight to score in a mile rate of 2m 0.4s.

It was the third career win for the gelded son of Fly Like An Eagle, who had been out of the winner’s list since May of last year.

Jane Ellen Final

A last moment decision by trainer-driver Paul Hill saw his filly Magic Pebbles score in the $20,000 Jane Ellen Final.

Hill had sent the filly to the spelling paddock after her win in Hobart on 5 December before changing the plan.

“I turned her out in the paddock, and she only had four days off, as they announced this race, so I went and got her out off the paddock and set her for it,” said Hill

The trainer-driver went into the final with confidence providing the filly had luck in running.

“I thought she was the best mare in the race.

“She tries her heart out and is a lovely mare to drive, drawn eight tonight I thought we may have been in a bit of trouble, so I got straight off the fence, and then they pulled up to a walk so I took off,” explained Hill.

After gaining one-out one-back cover at the 1200m, Hill elected to take off three-wide at the 800m, with the mare having to dig deep late to narrowly defeat Carols Judge in 2m 0.9s.

Hill said his main concern came pre-race.

“It worried me when Ricky (Duggan, regular driver) jumped off her, and with Ricky on, I thought she was a living certainty,” he said.

The filly will likely head for a spell, but that will be decided once Hill gets a chance to talk to the daughter of Pet Rock’s connections.

“I will talk to Charlie (Beadman), I reckon she will go for a spell, she maybe even go away,” said Hill, who is reconsidering his future in the industry.

By Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing