Favourites dominate the Sweepstakes heats

Moveslikealady (Art Major) and Hazewillrev (Art Major) justified their short quotes when winning their respective harness racing heats of the 2YO Cavalor Equicare Sweepstakes in Hobart on Sunday night.

Moveslikealady (Art Major – Shez Ryleymak), a full sister to former open class pacer Ryley Major, was sent out as the $1.22 favourite in her fillies heat in what was a tough watch for punters who took the short odds.

The Rohan Hillier trained and driven filly wasn’t too tractable in the score-up, broke soon after the start and was subsequently placed out of the draw by stewards.

The filly settled last of the four-horse field before improving into the race from the 800m.

Moveslikealady swept to the lead at the top of the home straight and drew clear late for an 11.2m win over Lazaro Girl ($21) and Dare You To Move ($10) in a time of 2m 1.5s for the 1609m trip.

Hazewillrev ($1.60 fav) became the fastest two-year-old in the state this season in Tasmania with a slashing 1m 57.5s when winning the colts and gelding Sweepstakes heat.

From barrier six, trainer-driver Craig Hayes pushed forward to find the lead on the Art Major gelding in a first quarter of 28.9s before a 31.2s second quarter, from there Hayes put the foot down running quarters of 28.3s and 29.1s to defeat Didyalousaroosta ($15) by 1.4m and Smooth Machete ($5.50) a further 3.1m away in third.

The mile was recorded in 1m 57.5s.

Further heats of each division of the Sweepstakes are scheduled for Friday night’s Hobart card before the finals on 10 September.

Driving honours at the meeting went the way of Gareth Rattray, who drove a treble on the card.

He teamed up with his uncle Kent to score with Karalta Artemis, who won the second event in a slick mile of 1m 56.5s before Rockandahardplace led all the way to win a rating 75 to 105 event later in the night.

Gareth’s last leg of his treble came with Young Rooster in the final race on the program, who was one of three winners on the program for trainer Ben Yole.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing