A large crowd descended on Ladbrokes Park Elwick in Hobart on Saturday to watch Modern Bliss take out the state’s only Group 1 race and give trainer Ash Warton and driver Ewa Justice their maiden Group 1 victories.
There were plenty of other great results on the night.
This week harness racing will be held in Hobart on Friday night, before the last country harness meeting of the season at Carrick Park on Sunday, featuring the Page Transport Carrick Cup.
The Stars
Modern Bliss – the 12-year-old gelding finished off best on the sprint lane to claim Group 1 glory in the Tasmania Cup. It was an excellent drive by concession driver Ewa Justice with the win being her first Group 1 and metropolitan victory. Her drive was praised by Victorian dual code trainer Ash Warton, with the win being his first Group 1 success.
Dream Maze – led all the way to score in the state’s premier mares race, the George Johnson, by 13.1m. The Allan McDonough-trained and driven six-year-old mare has now won eight of her 13 starts and took her stake earnings to $78,720 with the win.
Rohan Hillier – drove four winners on the Hobart card including feature race wins in the Henry Pullen Memorial with Fighting Fire, the LHT Cup with Lil Ripper, who he also trains, and the Eric Reece Memorial on the Paul Ashwood-trained Lets Go Lucylou.
Fighting Fire – gave his trainer Peter Jakowenko his biggest training success in the Henry Pullen Memorial Trainers Encouragement Final. The pacer worked forward to find the lead before racing away to score by 4.2m. The King Island trainer is in the process of moving from King Island to mainland Tasmania and is expecting to have a bigger presence in the coming months.
Feats of the meet
Hobart, 2 March
Rohan Hillier – driving quartet,
Mark Yole – driving double,
Wayne Yole – training double.
Burnie, 3 March
Robert Walters – driving treble,
Tiarna Ford – driving double,
Mark Yole – driving double,
Ben Yole – training quartet,
Wayne Yole – training treble.
Calculated Sectional Standouts
Hobart, 2 March
Stepping Stones 56.60s, Cedric Seymour 56.71s, Khaki Nui 56.90s, Sharkattack 57.04s, James Cagney and Dream Maze both 57.10s.
Burnie, 3 March
Major Mucha 60.10s, Opportunity Knocks 60.30s, Fiesta Stride 60.49s, Horrie Otara 60.58s, Alaphilippe 60.68s and Ozzie Major 60.87s.
Tasracing Official Price
Hobart, 2 March
Hit’s: Shark Attack $5.50 into $4.40, Lets Go Lucylou $1.70 into $1.28, Modern Bliss $21 into $16, Dream Maze $1.60 into $1.28, Major Lester $11 into $6.50 and Royal Appointment $1.90 into $1.45.
Defied The Drift: James Cagney $2.20 out to $2.60, Opportunity Knocks $7/50 out to $11, Fighting Fire $1.75 out to $2.30 and Lil Ripper $1.75 out to $2.10.
Missed: Cedric Seymour $11 into $6.50, Jeremy Wells $10 into $6.50, Scarlet Place $7.50 into $4.60, Hes Apples $8.00 into $5.00, Cemetery Bay $4.20 into $3.20, Cool Water Paddy $21 into $11, Ultimate Vinnie $3.60 into $2.60 and Ima Socialite $9.00 into $6.00.
Burnie, 3 March
Hit’s: Spot On $2.90 into $2.20, Major Mucha $4.40 into $3.00, Opportunity Knocks $4.40 into $3.40, Major Lester $3.30 into $2.15 and Karalta Dazzler $3.90 into $2.30.
Defied The Drift: Upsize Me $3.00 out to $4.00, Mayleejae Eagle $4.00 out to $6.00 and Ozzie Major $4.40 out to $11.
Missed: Where Ya Bin $5.50 into $3.60, Kiavino Stride $3.30 into $2.40, Blackjack Jim $5.50 into $3.70, Cheddar Valley $3.30 into $2.80, Fiesta Stride $4.20 into $3.20, Puntarno Stride $5.50 into $4.60 and Rocks Roy $4.40 out to $11.
Week Ahead
Friday: Harness racing in Hobart from 18:05.
Saturday: Interstate runners with a Tassie link include.
Menangle
R6 #3 Max Delight.
Melton
R5 #8 Kosimo,
R8 #1 Montana Flash.
Overseas, Ignatius will be looking to complete a winning hat-trick at Freehold in New Jersey. While at Buffalo Raceway in New York, Lip Reader, will line up in a conditioned event.
Sunday: Carrick Cup day with the nine-race card commencing at 14:19.
Monday: Trials to be held in Hobart from 17:30.
