Nyack ends the season with Group 3 victory

Talented three-year-old Nyack (Sweet Lou) ended his harness racing season on a winning note when he claimed the 2023 Nutrein Ag Solutions Globe Derby Final (2200m) in Launceston on Sunday night.

After working forward to outside of the front line, trainer-driver Todd Rattray worked forward on the $1.18 favourite and slotted into the one-one before improving into the race to find the lead 1500m.

From there, Nyack had the race run on his terms before racing away from his rivals over the final 400m to defeat Dukes Choice ($7.50) by 7.1m, with Nancestiger ($13) a further 7.2m away third.

The mile rating of 1:58.1s was a new race record, breaking the previous record held by Sunny Sanz of 1:58.7s in 2019.

“He did a bit of work early and slotted into the one-one before working round to find the front.

“He knocked off a bit as there was no one beside him in the straight. But he has done it with the plugs in,” said Rattray post-race.

The pacer is eligible for the Raider Stakes and Tasracing’s Eureka qualification race, the Beautide in 2024, but Rattray said he will discuss the future plans with a blank canvas with owners Barrie Rattray along with Lyndon and Deborah Dakin in the coming days.

“He will probably have a bit of a break and then we will sit down (with the owners) and chat about what they want to do,” said Todd.

The race was to be a clash with another talented three-year-old, De Goey, who was scratched on race morning due to a virus.

Slipper fits for Harley

Hobby trainer-driver Heath Woods’ return to harness racing in the 2018-2019 season has been more than successful, and he added another feature race win when Custom Harley ($3.80 fav) recorded a narrow win in the Faithful Park Stud Golden Slipper (1680m).

From inside of the second row, Woods settled the pacer in the back half of the field in a race where they ran along in the early stages.

Woods eased the pacer three-wide from the 650m, where he put up a great battle to run down the leader, Family Reasons ($9), in the home straight.

“He is still very green, but once I got into him a bit, he knuckled down.

“There was a point halfway through the year we thought he wouldn’t make it as a two-year-old, but he just kept getting better with every run,” Woods said post-race.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing