Tonkin 3yo proves to be the Best again

Three-year-old American Ideal colt Best Deal remains undefeated after three harness racing starts when claiming the Tasmanian Horse Transport Sires Produce (2090m) in Hobart on Sunday night.

The Clayton Tonkin-trained pacer was sent out the $1.05 favourite after wins at Terang in February by 20.4m and a victory in Launceston last week by 60.9m.

Driver Allan McDonough took the colt straight to the lead from his outside of the front line draw. He ran a controlled lead time of 36.3s and a slow first quarter of 33.3s before increasing the tempo in quarters of 31.3s and 28.5s before running away from his rivals in a 27.5s final quarter to score by 26.8m over former Victorian Sue Nien ($51) with Octagonise a half-neck away third in a mile rate of 2:00.8s.

“I think he is a real special horse, and I think he has got a real big future. The biggest thing is trying to keep him sound as he is so fast, and he takes a real big stride,” Tonkin said after the win.

“He will come home, and then he might go to Queensland. We haven’t ruled that out yet. He is inexperienced, but he is definitely up to them. I just thought I would send him down there and see how a trip away sat with him because he hasn’t had a lot of experience. He has settled in well down there and has taken no harm from it,” the trainer added.

The win completed a race-to-race double for Tonkin and McDonough, who claimed the Prydes Easifeed Hobart Belmont (1609m) for the Two-Year-Old Maiden Fillies with well-bred debutant Beach Diamond.

From outside the front row, the filly was positioned outside the leader in a 29.4s first quarter before being driven to the lead near the 1100m. She ran the final three quarters in 29.2s, 29.0s, and 29.5s to score by 14.2m over Isla Athena ($13) and Grimshaw Bay ($51).

The time was 1:57.0s, which took 0.4s off Bridwood Bella’s Two-Year-Old Fillies state record that has stood since June 2020.

“She was good. She is fairly inexperienced and isn’t round up at all, but she will do good for the syndicate.

“It was good for her to get away, get experience and get a score on the board for them,” Tonkin said.

The Somebeachsomewhere filly is out of Diamond Joy, who is a half-relation to multiple Group 1 winners Another Joy and Captain Joy, whose wins included the Victorian, New South Wales, and Queensland Derbies.

“She is very well-bred and has a bit of upside to her. I think she is going to make a horse, but she doesn’t know how to do it yet.

“We will win a couple of races with her, get a bit of experience, see how she develops, and then we will work out whether we press on or not,” explained the trainer about the short-term plans for the filly.

McDonough ended the night with a driving treble after winning the 75 to 105 rating event with Blitzern, who he also trains

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing