Sunny Sanz breaks through for a Tasmanian major

Gareth Rattray has achieved plenty in his harness racing career in the sulky.

The 37-year-old is the youngest member of the Tasmanian Harness Racing Hall of Fame and has driven the winners of some the states biggest races including the Tasmania and Easter Cup’s.

One race missing was the Listed Hardings Hotmix Devonport Pacing Cup, a race he first tried to win in as a 16-year-old in 2002 on Barringtonboutique who finished seventh to Flashing Red.

On Saturday night in Launceston, Gareth finally added the  Devonport Pacing Cup to his resume, where he scored on $10 chance Sunny Sanz (Sportswriter).

“I have had a bit of bad luck in the race and things hadn’t gone to plan, but tonight everything worked out well for us,” Gareth said post-race.

Settling behind the leader from his pole draw, Gareth was able to slot into the one-out one back position at the 700m on to the back of race-favourite Hes Ideal before he was beaten for speed in the home straight to finish 1.6m from the winner, with Montana Storm a further 5.6m away third.

The mile rate of 1m 59.6s was just 0.5s outside Harjeet’s track record.

Sunny Sanz showed plenty of talent as a two-year-old, but the gelded son of Sportswriter has given his owner-breeders Nathan and Sandra Bennett, and trainer Kent Rattray, plenty of heartbreak along the way with numerous injuries that have seen the pacer have two one-year breaks from the track.

“He has been such an honest horse, he has a good sit sprint on him, he is probably quicker than anyone about, but you just have to drive him quiet in these longer distance races,” Gareth explained.

The win was also the first in the race for Kent Rattray who was delighted to win a feature race with his stable favourite.

“He has got great ability, he is a high speed horse, he travels at a good speed, while he is a horse that you would call a mile and a half horse, the way he has been working and the way he has learnt to race in stands, he has became a mile and a half horse,” said Kent post-race.

Kent indicated the Tasmania and Easter Cup’s are likely options in the coming months.

“I suppose they are targets, but we will just keep him ticking along, a horse like him when he is fit he is there but you have got to have him right,” said the trainer.

Saturday night’s Devonport Pacing Cup was the first held away from the Devonport Showgrounds following the cessation of racing at that venue.

For complete race results, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing