It’s a big week of harness racing this weekend. The Australian Drivers Championship in Launceston is deemed the feature meeting of the weekend. Still, it will be overshadowed by a big night of racing in Hobart on Sunday, where there are heats of the Evicus and Dandy Patch, plus the Three-Year-Old Fillies Championship and the Tasmanian Guineas also being held.
The Stars
Michael Laugher – teamed up with driver Rohan Hillier for a treble on Sunday’s Hobart card. Their wins included a newcomer to the state, Royal Appointment, who won by 17.6m, while Emjays Black Chip and Killarney Dance also won for the duo.
Charlie Castles – continued a strong family tradition when he trained his first winner in Hobart with Sabine, his third start as a trainer since taking out his licence earlier this year.
Villiacci – continued on his winning way with another Discretionary handicap win. Connections did nominate the pacer for Saturday night’s Geelong Cup but have decided to keep the pacer in the state to contest a race in Hobart on Sunday.
Nyack – kept his Tasmanian Derby preparation on track with another dominant win this preparation. He is one of the leading contenders in Sunday night’s Tasmanian Guineas.
Langley and Ford – the mother-son combination, made the trip from Brighton to Burnie on Friday night, and they made their long trip worth it with a double with the wins of Lorimertyrrell and Rambunctious.
Feats of the meet
Burnie, 13 October
Ben Yole – four training wins,
Mark Yole – three driving wins,
Tammy Langley – two training wins,
Dylan Ford – two training wins.
Hobart, 15 October
Michael Laugher – three training wins,
Rohan Hillier – three driving wins,
Ben Yole – two training wins.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Burnie, 13 October
Ranieri 59.20s, Alaphilippe 59.29s, Rambunctious 59.30s, Whatta Good Reason 59.59s and Sweet Amour 59.93s.
Hobart, 15 October
Letsgobro 56.78s, Sabine 56.79s, Cullenburn 57.00s, Killarney Dance 57.10s and Octaganise 57.20s.
Tasracing Official Price
Burnie, 13 October
Hit’s: Lorimertyrrell $5.50 into $5.00, Bonny My Boy $3.60 into $3.00, Smooth Deal $5.00 into $3.60, Ranieri $11 into $8.50.
Defied The Drift: Dynasty Stride $16 out to $21, Nurse Anna $2.05 out to $2.60 and Beyonski $4.80 out to $9.00.
Missed: Imhooked $4.40 into $2.70, Cedric Seymour $3.00 into $2.50, Sea Hawke $9.50 into $6.00, Laid Back Kenny $9.00 into $7.50, Impulse $7.50 into $3.60 and Blackjack Jim $4.20 into $2.90.
Hobart, 15 October
Hit’s: Sabine $4.40 into $4.20, Nyack $1.75 into $1.60, Killarney Dance $2.10 into $1.75, Sports Illustrator $5.00 into $3.90 and Proficient $7.50 into $5.50.
Defied The Drift: Family Reasons $8.00 out to $9.50, Royal Appointment $1.65 out to $1.80, Sharkattack $3.10 out to $4.20, Emjays Black Chip $12 out to $19 and Villacci $2.70 out to $3.00.
Missed: Octaganise $2.90 into $2.35, Hy On A Hill $2.00 into $1.85, Heracles $20 into $9.00, More Than This $3.50 into $3.00, Petrea Bromac $4.40 into $3.30, Where Ya Bin $6.00 into $2.70, Sneaky Peak $4.40 into $3.80 and Wattabout Spangher $9.50 into $6.00.
Week Ahead
Friday: Interstate runners at Melton include:
R1 #3 Believe In Forever and #6 Jeremy Wells,
R2 #4 Dukes Choice,
R5 #1 Kosimo,
Saturday: The Australian Drivers Championship returns to Launceston, with all eight races being heats of the Championship. Jacob Bevis will be trackside for TasracingTV. Sky Racing 2 will televise the first two races, with the remaining races on Sky Racing 1.
Interstate runners at metropolitan venues include:
Geelong:
R2 #4 Safe Jewels and #5 Nifty Jolt,
R6 (Cup) #2 Max Delight, #$ Mach Dan and #9 Lip Reader,
R9 #2 Yareckon Im Smart and #6 Andaman Bay.
Menangle:
R1 #11 Boom.
Sunday: An outstanding program of racing with heats of the Evicus and Dandy Patch and Three Year Old Fillies Championship. The 10-race card will be shown on TasracingTV and Sky Racing 1, the meeting kicks of with the $14,000 Tasmanian Guineas, which has only attracted a field of four.
Monday: Trials at Carrick Park.
