Tasmanian harness highlights

Tasmanian harness racing historian Peter Cooley has dusted off the record books. From what he can find, Shandyman’s victory in Hobart on Sunday was the first of a skewbald pacer to win in Tasmania in over 100 years.

Cooley’s research found that five horses were registered as piebalds that have won in the state since 1920, the most recent being Longford’s Pride who won three races at Legerwood and Derby in 1930 then another at Elphin in September 1934.

The win of Shandyman was one of many highlights in Hobart last Sunday.

This week there is a solid Tasmanian contingent at Melton on Saturday night, before a 10-race card in Devonport on Sunday evening.

The Stars

Troy McDonald – teamed up with trainer Ben Yole for a training quartet on the 11-race Hobart card. Somedan led all the way to score in the fast class race of the night before the duo scored with Kiavino Stride, Tarleton Riley and Montana Lad.

Conor Crook – drove a treble on the Hobart program. He was able to score on the Kate Hargreaves-trained Extrinsic, who raced very erratically throughout. Shandyman was his next winner before rounding out the night with the very well supported Iden Gorgeous, who he also trains.

Shandyman – added a splash of colour to the Hobart meeting, with the registered skewbald becoming the first pacer of that colour to score in the island state in over 100 years. The Michael Laugher-trained entire enjoyed a nice one-out two-back trail before proving too good for his rivals late.

Rocknroll Nitro – notched up his first win of the season with an all the way win in a rating 40 to 55 event. The Paul Hill-trained gelding led from the pole draw with reinsman Ricky Duggan getting enough out of the son of Rock N Roll Heaven late to score by a head.

Say A Prayer – recorded her fifth career win in a mares rating 45 to 59 event when coming from last at the 400 metres to sprint past her rivals to score for concession driver Tiarna Ford.

Multiple Winners

Hobart – Sunday evening
Ben Yole – training quartet; Somedan, Kiavino Stride, Tarleton Riley and Montana Lad,
Troy McDonald – driving quartet; Somedan, Kiavino Stride, Tarleton Riley and Montana Lad,
Conor Crook – driving treble; Extrinsic, Shandyman and Iden Gorgeous.

Tasracing Calculated Sectionals

Hobart – Sunday evening
No Spring Secrets 57.15s, Gotta Good Reason 57.65s, Blackbird Power 57.75s, Montana Lad 57.79s, Reign Of Pain 58.00s and Be Major Threat 58.06s.

View all available Tasmanian Sectional Data by clicking here.

Tasracing Official Price

Hobart – Sunday evening

Hit’s: Rocknroll Nitro $4.20 into $4.00, Kivik $3.30 into $2.80, Lorimermajor $11 into $8.00, Iden Gorgeous $6.00 into $2.40, Tarleton Riley $5.00 into $3.80 and Montana Lad $3.30 into $2.90.

Defied The Drift: Somedan $4.40 out to $7.00, Kiavino Stride $4.00 out to $11 and Say A Prayer $4.20 out to $8.00.

Missed: Something Bettor $3.10 into $2.10, Lily Rocks $1.55 into $1.35, A Good Knight $7.00 into $4.20, Im Rock Solid $6.00 into $4.00, Gotta Good Reason $14 into $7.50, Be Major Threat $6.00 into $3.80, Jocund $15 into $6.50, Elita $10 into $5.50, Kohanah $9.00 into $4.40, Starofremembrance $4.80 into $3.30, Juniper $11 into $6.00, Debt Till We Part $21 into $8.00, Got The Goods $8.50 into $4.40, Hez The One $6.50 into $4.60 and Left A Hurricane $11 into $4.80.

Trial File

Hobart – Monday evening
A track record was broken in the opening trial in Hobart on Monday night which was taken out by the Thomas Jackson-trained Finn Mac Kee in a rating 41 to 74 standing start trial over 1609 metres.

Driver Paul Hill took the pacer straight to the lead and attempted to give the pacer a decent hit out over the short trip, with the distance being frustrating for trainers who utilise the trials as a part of their training regime.

Admittingly, it is a rarity to see a standing start race over the mile outside of two-year-old races.

As the record was broken in a trial, it won’t officially replace the record that is held by Finn Lee, who went 2m 3.6s on 13 July, 2009.

Other winners were; Mayleejae Eagle (2m 7.4s), Outlaw Joe (2m 5.5s), Nova Baxter (2m 5.2s), Emjays Black Chip (2m 7.1s) and Lockaway Kacie (2m 4.4s).

Week Ahead

Saturday: We kick off the morning with trials at Carrick Park from 9:00, with replays of the session to be made available on tasracing.com.au.

Cool Water Paddy will have his first try across Bass Strait when he lines up in the opening race at Melton at 17:03.

The Juanita McKenzie-trained pacer has drawn the pole in a race restricted to horses that have not won more than one race of total prizemoney of $15,000 or higher.

Chris Alford has been booked for the drive.

The second race at Melton is for the mares rated between 65 to 79, where recent Hobart winner Belle Of Brooklyn has drawn barrier five, the pacer has joined the stables of Taylor Ford, who will also take the reins.

In race three, Tasmanian owned trotter Magic Owens will have his second start back in Victoria, he has drawn inside the second row where he is the emergency for the race.

The Tasmanian interest stops for race four but resumes for race five with Tasmanian owned, bred and trained mare Still Hungover drawing barrier three in a rating 78 to 94 event.

If that wasn’t enough, we round out the night with Tasmanian owned Max Delight, who has drawn outside of the second-row in the night’s feature race, the Italian Cup.

Sunday: The Devonport Harness Racing Club holds the sole meeting of the week with 10-races on the card from 17:03.

There are two $12,000 features on the card, including the Goracing Ulverstone Cup and the Max McCormack for the three-year-old and older pacers that have won less than $10,000.

The current Sky Racing schedule has the opening race on Sky Racing 2, with the remainder of the card on Sky Racing 1.

As has been the case when there is only one race meeting scheduled for the week, the pre-race trials have been cancelled due to the lack of available horse stalls.

By Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing