Castles mare Spot on in Group Three

Wesley Vale trainer John Castles claimed his second Tasbred final success when lightly raced harness racing mare Spot Ruler (Huntsville) ($3.50) claimed the Group 3 Granny Smith Final (2698m) in Launceston on Sunday night.

Driver Gareth Rattray, who was also celebrating a birthday, took the daughter of Huntsville straight to the early lead, and after some moderate early sections, she was able to dash away in the home straight to score by 7.2m in a mile rate of 2:03.6s on a rain-affected track.

“Things went our way early when she was able to lead, and once she held it she was good from there. Gareth was able to rate her well in front, and I was actually surprised by the way she kicked halfway up the straight,” said Castles.

The mare had a large support crew on track cheering her home, including Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff. She has been lightly raced, with Sunday’s race being her sixth career start.

“It’s been one thing after another with her, usually viral, but at the moment, that seems behind her.”

The trainer was unsure if the pacer would press on to next month’s Beautide, electing to wait and see how she comes through Sunday’s run.

Spot Ruler is a half-relation of Castles’ previous Tasbred winner, Agouda Ruler, who won the Dandy Patch in 2020.

Nyack claims Raider Stakes

The Todd Rattray trained and driven Nyack ($1.35) claimed the Group 3 Raider Stakes Final (2698m).

Todd Rattray took the pacer straight to the early lead and enjoyed some soft early sections before dashing away for an eight-metre win over De Goey ($2.80), who was severely checked and subsequently broke on the first turn and settled at the tail of the field as a consequence.

The mile rate was 2:03.7s.

“I thought he went good. De Goey galloped, which allowed us to dictate the race. But he felt good through the line,” said Rattray.

“He will go to the Beautide in a fortnight. That has been his main aim,” the trainer-driver added.

Another potential starter in the Beautide from the Rattray stable is last season’s two-year-old filly of the year, Swiatek Leis ($13), who caused a minor upset in the Beautide 3YO Prelude (2200m).

“She has plenty of ability, but she is a bit hot to handle. She was jogging on their backs, went past them, but then wanted to stop.

“I will talk to Trevor and Marjorie Leis (owner-breeders) about if we head towards the Beautide,” said Rattray.

Rattray ended the night with a treble, with Hunt A Rainbow, also Beautide eligible, winning his third race at start 12.

Blitzern turns tables

Former Victorian pacer Blitzern was defeated a head in track record time in the Golden Mile two starts ago, and he was able to turn the tables over his more fancied rivals in the inaugural running of the Darrel Rockliff Graduate (2200m).

From an inside of the second-row draw, driver Mitch Ford pushed through to settle on the back of the leader before working into the clear around the home bend, where he was able to rundown Magician ($1.85 fav) by 1.3m in 1:58.0s.