Tasmanian highlights – Friday 26 January

Riverboat Jasper’s win in the Hardings Hotmix Devonport Cup was one of many highlights of a massive 10-event harness racing program at the Devonport Showgrounds on Sunday evening.

First up for inform trainer-driver Mark Yole the gelded son of Riverboat King was able to outstay his rivals after leading up the three-wide line for the final 900-metres.

Also in Devonport on Sunday last season’s star two-year-old Ignatius returned to the track for the first time as a three-year-old for an effortless win in a slick 27.8 seconds final quarter.

This week the final meeting of the King Island racing season will be staged on Saturday before the action turns to Launceston on Sunday.

The Stars

Mark Yole – after winning the Burnie Cup earlier this month with Hez The One, Yole made it a North-West Cups double as a trainer and driver with Riverboat Jasper who was first up in his care in the Devonport Cup. Yole also recorded a driving double on the program winning the final race with Ken Two Stars.

Ignatius – easily accounted for his rivals when winning first-up from a spell on Sunday, his last half mile was recorded in 57.5 seconds.

Paul Ashwood – was able to take out the Dash For Cash with Sultan Fella after a patient drive along the fence. Ashwood made it two winners for the week as a trainer and driver with a top drive aboard Offthetopofmyhead in the final event of the day in Hobart on Wednesday. The mile rate of 1:50.0 was the quickest of the four 1140-metre races held on the day.

Conor Crook – continued his terrific form this month with another win in Hobart in the open race on Wednesday with Manwiththeeski.

Multiple Winners

Devonport – Sunday

Mark Yole – driving double; Riverboat Jasper and Ken Two Stars.

Hobart – Wednesday

Ben Yole – training double; Manwiththeeski and At West Point.

Todd Rattray – driving double; Hayleys Comet and Dasher Houli.

Calculated Sectional Standouts

Quickest last halves (800m) from last week’s action in Devonport on Sunday.

Ignatius 57.50, Krafty Boy 58.87, Sea Sky 57.90, Laid Back Kenny 58.05 and Queens Advocate 58.17.

View all starters sectional data from the meeting here.

*Sectionals from Hobart on Wednesday was  unavailable at time of publication.

Tasracing Official Price

Devonport

Hit: Nances Delight $2.60 into $2.50, Hamna Shida $3.10 into $3, Metro Digby $3.60 into $3.50
Defied The Drift: Sultan Fella $11 out to $14
Missed: Mon Poppy Polly $17 into $14

Hobart

Hit: Manwiththeeski $7 into $6
Defied The Drift: Reason To Grin $4.80 out to $6
Missed: Ideal Fella $26 into $12

Black Booker

Lockaway Kacie

This Paul Williams trained and driven pacer settled in last position of the eight-horse field when contesting the Derrico Cycles Mares Incentive Pace in Devonport on Sunday evening. She was the only runner in the race to make up ground over the final 500-metres of the race to finish in third position behind the winner Nances Delight who led all the way, with the second place getter El Jays Mystery sitting outside the leader for the majority of the race.

Watch the replay here.

Trial File

Carrick Park on Monday

The quickest trial of the evening was for horses assessed 3C0, who had first use of the track. The trial was won by Betterthancheddar filly Betterthanlife who led all the way to win by a short half head over Bettabrown Tiger in a bunched up finish with only 11 metres separating the first seven place getters. The mile rate of 2:05.5 was two seconds quicker than any other trial on the night.

Other winners included; Karalta Moondance 2:08.3, El Jays Monday 2:08.4, Ideal Karalta 2:07.6, Heavenly Rock dead-heated with Barooga Jezza (2:08.0) and Sea Double Ugrant (2:09.7).

Week Ahead

Ignatius will continue his preparation for next month’s New South Wales Derby. The gelded son of Roll With Joe has drawn barrier two on the second row in the opening event of the program that will be run over 1680 metres and is set down to jump at 17:55.

On Saturday afternoon the King Island Racing Club will stage their final meeting of the season with two harness races to coincide with the five thoroughbred races.

Duncan Dornauf