Todd looking to add a Rattray name to Derby honour roll

Longford trainer-driver Todd Rattray will be hoping Nyack (Sweet Lou) can end the run of Victorian winners in Saturday night’s Tasmanian Derby, one of four Group 3 features in Hobart on Saturday night.

Victorian-trained pacers have won the last five runnings of Tasmania’s premier three-year-old race, which has been good to the Rattray family, with Todd’s brother Gareth driving Mister Lennox to victory in 2015, their father Barrie won aboard Joesashyguy in 1999, while Todd and Gareth’s grandfather Wayne trained Admiral Karalta to win the race in 1997.

Nyack goes into this year’s Derby on the back of a dominant win against three other rivals in the Tasmanian Guineas 13 days ago, where he led up the one-wide line for the final 1700m before running away from his opponents from the 300m to score by 16.9m and did so in a 56.2s last half mile.

Todd had to forfeit the drive on that occasion while sitting in the maternity ward while his wife Lyrae gave birth to their second child, Nina.

“Ricky (Duggan) drove him for me, and he was pretty impressed with him. He rang me after the race and said he felt like he was a pretty good horse.

“He is going as good as he has, and since his run in the Beautide (four starts ago when fifth), he has just kept improving.

The Sweet Lou colt has won nine of his 16 starts and has drawn barrier seven on Saturday.

“I wasn’t real happy when the draw came out, but he should be there in the finish, hopefully,” said Todd.

Todd has sent many horses to his brother James to chase feature race success in New South Wales, and the roles have been reversed in this year’s running of the Group 3 Tasmanian Oaks with Art Major filly Millies Creation.

The filly has won three of her 12 starts this season and was sent to Todd after being placed in a metropolitan three-year-old at Melton in late September.

“James had her in Melbourne, and I suggested how this race might suit her, said Todd.

The filly had her first Tasmanian start when third in the Three Year Old Fillies Championship 13 days ago.

“I thought she was good first up. She pulled a bit and also wanted to run around a bit as well.

“She did some work early and came again late,” said the trainer-driver.

Saturday’s meeting also features the two Tasbred Two-Year-Old Finals, both at Group 3 level.

In the Evicus, Todd is represented by Swiatek Leis, who was placed in her heat behind Chenin Beach.

“Her last run wasn’t her best. She wanted to hang a bit on the corner and probably lost some momentum, but it was her first run back for a while, and she should be a bit fitter.

“Drawn three on the second row isn’t that flash, so hopefully, there is a bit of speed early, and she can get into it late.

The other Group 3 race is the Dandy Patch, which features a $10,000 Jackpot on the first four with UTAB.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing