Kent and Gareth Rattray combine for Cup Glory

Colby Sanz (Betterthancheddar) has given his connections their second Cup in the space of eight days after the harness racing gelding took out Sunday afternoon’s 7BU Burnie Cup.

Trainer Kent Rattray, driver Gareth Rattray along with north-east owner-breeders Nathan and Sandra Bennett all combined to win last week’s Listed Devonport Pacing Cup in Launceston with Sunny Sanz, but on Sunday, it was the pacers half-brother Colby Sanz taking out the Burnie Harness Racing Club’s premier race.

Kent also prepared the race favourite Rockandahardplace and was confident going into the race that he would win.

His only question was which one of his duo would collect the silverware.

“I thought whatever one led would have won, if Rocky had led, I think he would have won, but he got left standing flat-footed with the delayed start,” said Kent.

It was Colby Sanz jumping on top in the 2579m event, the place to be on the 607m circuit.

Reinsman Gareth Rattray elected to bowl along in a 91.5s lead time before running quarters of 31.7s, 31.3s, 31.4s and 29.5s to record a mile rate of 2m 4.3s, taking 0.1s off Murillo Bromac’s track record that was set in the 2010 Cup.

“He has just been a bit unlucky of late, his run in the Scottsdale Cup was pretty good.

“When he lobs on top, he is a different horse,” said Kent about Colby Sanz post-race.

Kuyomi, who sat on the back of the leader, finished second, while Rockandahardplace, the winner’s stablemate, was third across the line.

“I’m lucky to have two nice horses that go like they do, they are not Sunny Sanz, but they are nice mid-range horses,” said Kent.

Colby Sanz was fourth in last year’s Group 1 Easter Cup in Launceston, and that race is in the back of mind for his connections.

“Once he did what he did in the Easter Cup, which I half believed he was capable of being competitive in that race, then you plan around the Cup’s.

“We will look at the few (country cup’s) that are left and do our best with what’s about.

“We may go to the Easter Cup. I have never thought about the Tassie Cup, there maybe too much pressure from Melbourne for that race,” explained Kent.

The country cups remaining in the upcoming months include the washed-out St Marys Cup, which will be held at Carrick Park at a reduced national rating of 50 and better, while the New Norfolk Pacing Cup will be held in Hobart on the thoroughbred track on Sunday.

Also still upcoming are the Meander Valley Cup (5 February) and Carrick Cup (12 March), with both races being held at Carrick Park

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing