Woods stable out to continue excellent strike rate

Consistency is one word that comes to mind when you think of the harness racing performance of the Heath Woods stable.

The Broadmarsh-based trainer has had 45 starts this season, with his horses finishing in the top three placings at a strike rate of 60%.

Woods will take two runners to Hobart on Sunday, including Stepping Stones (Stonebridge Regal), who lines up the ninth race of the program.

The five-year-old mare has won two of her past four starts, and Woods is happy with her recent form.

“She has really struck a good patch.

“She is getting into the groove of racing and seems happy,” he said.

Stepping Stones most recent win came in Hobart on 29 September, where she came from last at the 700m and also had to avoid interference down the back straight.

“I thought I was in a bit of strife down the back, we were giving them a bit of a start, but she kept working home,” said Woods, who will also take the drive.

From barrier two, Woods is expecting a forward showing.

“She is always a chance.

“I will be looking to get a sit somewhere and a nice run in transit, and hopefully she can finish off,” the trainer-driver said.

Earlier in the night, Woods has Sports Illustrator (Sportswriter) engaged in a rating 75 to 105 event.

The four-year-old gelding was eligible for an easier assignment earlier in the night, with the trainer-driver believing the pacer would be better suited to taking on higher-rated horses.

“He is a bit like her (Stepping Stones) in that I get the feeling when they draw the back row, I’m relying on others to give us a cart into the race.

“Even though he hasn’t got a lot of gate speed, from one, he seems to come out okay if he can hold two or three back the fence, and in those higher class races, there tends to be a bit more speed on, so I thought we would give him a crack at it,” Woods said.

“I think he is a better horse than Stepping Stones as he seems to have a bit more dash to him, and she seems to handle the truly run races better, and I think they will suit him too,” the trainer-driver added.

Meanwhile, former Tasmania Cup winner The Shallows has returned home from a New South Wales campaign and will commence work in the coming days.

“He went good his first start at Menangle, but he had a little accident and a few weeks off.

“He just didn’t find his best form after that, but we only planned on him being there for a couple of months to see if he could pick up one at Menangle, but it just didn’t work out,” said Woods.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing