Dandy Patch winner ready for next test

Last season’s Dandy Patch winner, Agouda Ruler, will be out to continue his path to next month’s Group 2 Globe Derby Stakes when he lines up in the Find Us On Facebook Pace in Launceston on Friday night. To view fields click here.

The John Castles-trained gelding won six of his 12 starts last season and has been placed in one of four attempts this season.

That placing was in Launceston last Sunday when he was defeated a half-neck in a rating 40 to 55 event for three-year-olds.

It was a tough performance by the gelded son of Betterthancheddar, who raced three-wide with cover for the final 1100m before running on well in the straight to be pipped right on the line by Barooga Rock, who had a soft run on the pegs before working into the clear over the concluding stages.

On Friday, Agouda Ruler has drawn inside of the second-row in a national rating 52 to 57 event over 2200m.

His main danger in an even race appear to be Ultimate Me, who has been placed in two Tasmanian starts since joining the Ben Yole stable, along with his stablemate My Celebrity, who flashed home late to just miss in the race won by Juniper on Sunday.

Agouda Ruler will be one of many Tasmanian bred three-year-olds racing this weekend, being aimed at the Group 2 Globe Derby and Bandbox series that commences in with heats in Launceston on 7 November before the Group 2 Finals on 21 November.

The Tasmanian bred pacers will be on show at the metropolitan meeting at Ballarat on Saturday night.

Last start Group 2 Granny Smith winner, Blame It On Me, will have her first Victorian start in the Group 3 Make Mine Cullen where she has drawn outside of the front row in the 1710 metre event.

Trainer Doug Nettlefold has booked Kerryn Manning for the drive, with the pacer rated a $51 chance in early markets.

Better Amour was runner up to Blame It On Me in the Granny Smith Final, and has since joined the stables of David Miles and will line up for her Victorian debut in race three.

Another Tasmanian bred pacer doing battle on Saturday night is Ignatius at Menangle who lines up in the opening race.

By Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing