Miss Papenhuyzen leading chance in George Johnson

The Rohan Hillier-trained and driven mare Miss Papenhuyzen (Sweet Lou) will lead the Tasmanian harness racing contingent in the state’s premier mares race, the Cavalor Equicare George Johnson, in Hobart on Saturday night.

Miss Papenhuyzen has only finished further back than second on one occasion in her 15 starts, with that being a sixth placing in the New Norfolk Cup, which was held on the thoroughbred track in Hobart.

The four-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou goes into the $40,000 event after breaking the 2150m Carrick Park track record last Sunday when recording a career-best mile rate of 1m 57.2s, which took a whole second off the previous record with her trainer-driver delighted with the performance.

“It was a really good run.

“When we went to the breeze (mid-race) they put the foot down, and her last three quarters were pretty good,” said Hillier.

“I reckon the last five to six weeks, she has gotten better every week,” he added.

Miss Papenhuyzen was backed from $9 into $5.5 in early markets and sits on the second line of betting behind the Emma Stewart-trained Major Grace ($1.12 fav).

The pair have clashed twice this season, with Major Grace defeating Miss Papenhuyzen by 14.6m in Launceston on 14 January.

They clashed again in the first heat of the George Johnson, where Major Grace led all the way from the pole draw to score by 7.5m over Miss Papenhuyzen, who raced outside her for the final mile.

Hillier expects the final will be run similarly.

“It’s the same scenario as the heat.

“Major Grace will lead and we will have to be close to her at the half-mile, and whether we can outstay her over 2579m I’m not too sure, but I know she is well within herself and I think the quick back-up will help her,” he said.

The George Johnson is race 7 and is one of the main events on Group 1 Tasmania Cup night, with the first of 10 races scheduled for 18:25.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing