Mia Ragazza off to stud with back-to-back wins

Art Major mare Mia Ragazza ended her harness racing career on a winning note when scoring in the Vizpix Broadcast Services Pace (2200m) in Launceston on Sunday night.

From the pole draw, driver Jacob Duggan positioned the $2.30 favourite three-back the pylons before weaving a passage into clear racing room at the 175m, where she motored home to score by 1.5m over Nova Baxter ($2.70) and Gobsmacked ($16) in a mile rate of 2:00.5s.

Post-race trainer-owner Kristy Butler explained that she wasn’t too worried about the mare settling back on the pylons as it was the last start for the winner of eight races.

“Three-back the pegs didn’t worry me. Knowing that she would finish off better than everything if she got the gap because that’s how she likes it, it was just a matter of waiting for the gap.

“We were going to retire her after her win the start before, but there was a mares race that suited on Sunday, and we nominated her for that, but it got deleted with only two nominations, and after some heated discussion with Marc (Butler, Kristy’s Husband) we decided to use a concession claim and get into another race,” Butler said.

“She has her fair share of issues and has done a really good job, but when we bought her we always planned to breed from her down the track,” said the trainer-owner.

The win was the first leg of a driving double for Duggan, who drove Mista Eagle to a last-stride win later in the night.

Duggan shared driving honours at the meeting with Mitch Ford, who made a quick trip home from New South Wales to participate at the meeting.

Ford won aboard Captain Cosmonaut and Kiavino Stride, both trained by Ben Yole, who ended the night with four winners after Endeavour Stride and Juniper scored later in the night.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing