Art Major gelding wins his fourth race of the season

Art Major gelding Messerati won his fourth race of the harness racing season on Sunday night, taking out the $12,000 Discretionary Handicap (2200m) in Launceston.

The $10 chance stepped well and took up the early lead. After a soft lead time of 46.3s and early quarters of 31.8s and 31.1s, he dashed home in 27.9s and 28.7s to score by a neck over Nyack ($1.85 fav), who galloped away his first few strides and ended up racing back in the field. The fast-finishing Miss Papenhuyzen ($3.70) was a further 3m away in third position in a mile rate of 2:01.3s.

“He was a good winner last week in Hobart. I was really impressed with his effort there. But when you find the front in a standing start over 2200m, it certainly helps.

“I think he gained confidence from that third in the Easter Cup. And I think he has improved. He has got high speed, which helps. When he starts being off handicaps, he will have to be driven for a bit of luck, and the night he gets it, he will be finishing off hard,” said driver Mark Yole post-race.

The win was the middle leg of a training treble for Wayne Yole, who had success with We Salute You ($8.00) and Botany Bay Warrior ($5.00), both of which were driven by Robert Walters.

Walters shared driving honours with Brodie Davis and Rohan Hillier.

Davis picked up the drive on the Olivia Weidenbach-trained Spacewriter ($3.40), who had a lovely run behind the leader to win race one before teaming up with his father Steven to record back-to-back wins with three-year-old filly Tambros Tilly ($4.00).

Hillier’s drove the Mark Jones-trained Nova Baxter ($4.20 fav), who produced a fast finishing burst to win her first race of the season, before guiding the Bill Dornauf-trained Indelible ($4.40) to her fifth consecutive victory.

The program had many thrilling finishes, none more so than the night’s final race, where 1.1m separated the first three placegetters.

The Leigh Rand-trained Pardoe Plugga finished off best after settling back along the pegs after initially leading, with Charlie Castles driving the pacer to a narrow win.

Pardoe Plugga was first up since finishing down the track in last month’s Easter Cup, and the eight-year-old gelding is closing in on $100,000 in stake earnings.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing