Tasmanian Harness Highlights – 20 April

This Friday night at Tailrace Center in Riverside, Tasmanian harness racing participants get to look back and congratulate those for their 2022 harness racing season achievements at the Edgar Talow Medal and Awards night evening.

Come Sunday, and it’s back to business with a number 10-race card in Hobart, including a quality field to battle in the Brighton Cup.

Last week there was plenty to celebrate, including a new record for a leading trainer and a mile-stone winner for last season’s leading junior driver.

The Stars

Ben Yole – with five winners in Hobart on Friday night, he broke the record for the most winners for a Tasmanian licensed trainer when Written In Silk scored in the opening race.

Mitch Ford – is only in his second full season of driving, and on Friday in Hobart, he recorded his 100th career win aboard Brian Who.

Kivik – has returned to his best form, and he made it back-to-back wins when flying home for a narrow win on Sunday night in Launceston in a career-best winning mile rate.

Gigi I Got This – outstayed her rivals, sitting parked to record her maiden win on Sunday. The Rock N Roll Heaven filly is named after Gianna Bryant, who, along with her father, NBA great Kobe Bryant and seven others, passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020.

Feats of the meet

Hobart, 14 April
Ben Yole – five training winners and a new record for the most number of winners by a Tasmanian licensed trainer,
Nathan Ford – three driving wins.
Mitch Ford – two driving wins, including his 100th career win.

Launceston, 16 April
Ben Yole – four training wins.

Calculated Sectional Standouts

Hobart, 14 April
Hez Razor Sharp 57.31s, Montana Flash 57.54s, Seal The Destiny 57.57s, Sports Illustrator 57.74s and Taroona Bromac 57.80s.

Launceston, 16 April
We Salute You 56.66s, Classy Countess 56.70s, Kivik 56.89s, Micton Aroha 57.04s and Rockandahardplace 57.07s.

Tasracing Official Price

Hobart, 14 April
Hits: Written In Silk $10 into $7.50, Major Mucha $3.40 into $3.00, Juniper $8.00 into $6.00 and Kick It To Jack $4.40 into $3.80.
Defied The Drift: Fury Dan $3.00 out to $3.80, Lorimertyrrell $2.15 out to $2.35 and Brian Who $6.00 out to $6.50.
Missed: Spikey Boy $8.00 into $5.50, Bee Seventeen $21 into $7.00, Pacific Rock $4.80 into $3.50, Rock On Playboy $19 into $10, Salvator Mundi $5.50 into $3.50, Hez Razor Sharp $5.50 into $3.50, Reds Good To Go $6.50 into $4.80 and Shannon $8.50 into $4.20.

Launceston, 16 April
Hits: Bold Centurian $4.20 into $3.20, Gigi I Got This $6.50 into $5.00, Check In $9.00 into $6.50.
Defied The Drift: Kivik $6.50 out to $10, Mucho Mover $1.95 out to $2.60, Mach Angelo $4.80 out to $6.00 and Kens Chips $7.50 out to $15.
Missed: Classy Countess $4.80 into $3.20, Sweet Amour $8.00 into $4.80, Nova Paxter $6.00 into $4.40, Aha Reaction $17 into $8.00, Equity Stride $21 into $13, Hickstead $2.30 into $1.95 and Our Ruby Rose $2.15 into $1.40.

Week Ahead

Friday: Edgar Tatlow Medal Dinner at the Tailrace Center in the Launceston suburb of Riverside with a 19:00 for 19:30 start.

Saturday: At Menangle, Timely Sovereign (R2), Bridwood Bella (R5) and Joe The Bookie (R9) are headlining the Tasmanian bred or owned representation.

Sunday: The sole Tasmanian meeting of the week in Hobart, with a 10-race card.

The $14,000 Brighton Cup is the feature race on the card, with five heats of the Cavalor Equicare Novice Drivers Series also to be decided across the program that commences at the earlier start time of 16:22.

At the time of writing, races one and two will be shown on Sky Racing 2, with the remaining races on Sky Racing 1.

After a last-start third, Ignatius will line up again on Sunday morning (EST) in the 12th race at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, where he has drawn barrier seven.

Monday: Trials in Hobart from 17:30.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing