Brodie gearing up for his first Group 1 drive

Last September, Brodie Davis was patiently waiting for his 16th birthday so he could fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a harness racing driver.

Fast forward six months, and he will participate in Tasmania’s biggest race, the Group 1 Tasmania Cup in Hobart.

Brodie, a year 11 student at St Brendan Shaw College in Devonport, will drive one of the outsiders, Major Davvin (Art Major), who finished fifth to race favourite Wheres The Gold in last week’s heat.

“I’m thrilled to have a drive in the race,” said Brodie.

“When dad put him in the heat, we were unsure how he would measure up, but he went well, considering he is only rated 52.

“He stepped very well as he normally does, and when we lobbed on on the back of Wheres The Gold, I knew he would get every chance to qualify,” added the driver.

Major Davvin has drawn two on the front line in the $150,000 event, and with luck, on his side, Brodie is confident the seven-year-old gelding can figure at the business end of the race.

“With the right run, I think he can run top five.

“Emma Stewart’s horses (Wheres The Gold and The Raconteur) are always hard to beat when she brings them down, and Boom has raced well in New Zealand and in Sydney and should settle handy. I think they are the main ones to beat,” Brodie said.

After completing his educational studies, Brodie has aspirations to make a full-time career as a harness racing trainer and driver.

He is also another graduate of Tasracing’s Mini Trot program, which gives the next generation of participants a good grounding in the sport.

Betting for the race opened this morning with Wheres The Gold installed as the $1.60 favourite, from The Raconteur, Boom and heat winner Check In all on the second line of betting at $8.00.

The Tasmania Cup is set down for 21:04 and is race six on a ten-event program.

Watch Major Davvin finish fifth to Wheres The Gold in Heat Two of the Tasmania Cup.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing