Rattray hoping to go Boom

Boom (Alta Christiano) will be out to book a place in Saturday weeks Group 1 Ladbrokes Tasmania Cup when the Todd Rattray-trained and driven harness racing pacer contests the last heat of the state’s premier race in Hobart on Friday night.

The former New Zealand and New South Wales pacer has won eight of his 50 starts and has finished in the minor placings on 17 occasions.

The gelded son of Alta Christiano has been doing his most recent racing at Metropolitan level at Menangle and was ready to make his Tasmanian debut before being scratched from a race in Hobart on 19 February.

“He has been going well at home, but he had a virus, so I had to scratch him a few weeks ago,” said Rattray.

Boom also has the advantage of standing start experience in New Zealand, where he won three standing start races.

“I think he is safe away (on what he has done at home).

“It is his first run for me, and I think he will improve with the run,” Rattray said.

Boom sits on the second line of betting in early markets at $8.50, behind $1.22 favourite Wheres The Gold for visiting Victorian trainer Emma Stewart and reinsman Allan McDonough.

Friday’s eight-race card will be shown on Sky Racing 2 and TasracingTV.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing