Barbary Tales and Hungry Hippo take Tasmanian 3YO classics

The Launceston Pacing Club staged their major juvenile races and the three year old events brought together competitive fields for both the fillies and the colts and geldings.

The $75,000 6TY Bandbox for Tasmanian bred three year old fillies was taken in out in fine style by favourite Barbary Tales (For A Reason) who defeated a gallant The Bride with Alwaysatiger a distant third.

The highlight of the race was the attempt by driver Alex Ashwood to break up the field with The Bride and he almost succeeded.

Commencing quickly from barrier 3, The Bride found the lead while Barbary Tales was able to secure a one out and one back trail.

Ashwood attempted to steal the race with a quick 27.6 seconds for the third quarter but Brodie Davis on Barbary Tales set out in pursuit. Even so she was still about 8 to 10 metres away on straightening. However the run told on The Bride and she notably shortened stride in the last 100 metres and Barbary Tales won by over three metres and the first two runners spaced the rest with Alwaysatiger nearly 25 metres away in third.

Barbary Tales is out of Angkristy (Ponder) a handy race mare with six wins while racing in Tasmania. She’s also left the winning two year old A Dragon For Joe.

Trained by Steven Davis for John Huston Barbary Tales won the Evicus for two year old fillies last season and she now has 15 starts for eight wins and over $138,000 in stake money.

The $75,000 Nutrien AG Globe Derby for three year old colts and geldings was won impressively by Hungry Hippo (Stay Hungry).

Driven by Alex Ashwood for trainer Emma Stewart Hungry Hippo secured a perfect one out and one back trail. The Victorian Okanui Beach was taken to the lead while the other Tasmanian hope Our Tiger was three back on the rails.

Hungry Hippo was lucky to avoid trouble when Preparation who’d been racing outside the leader suddenly choked down at the bell and Ashwood showed great skill avoiding severe interference despite being checked.

Hungry Hippo tackled Okanui Beach in the final lap and he gradually asserted his authority to come away and win by just under 12 metres with OurTiger a fair way back third.

Hungry Hippo had a clean record in Tasmania before being a runner up in the South Australian Derby and then last week was a surprise second when expected to win. But there was no doubt that last night he was clearly the best three year old in the event.

Hungry Hippo rated 1.57.3 compared to Barbary Tales running nearly a second slower in 1.57.2.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink