Only four horses will contest the highest prize money race on Sunday’s Launceston card, the $20,000 Ladbrokes Own Spring Two Year Old (2200m).
Brighton-trainer Mark Reggett will be hoping his runner, Smooth Reason, can keep her unbeaten Launceston record intact when she lines up from barrier four.
The daughter of For A Reason won her first career start in Launceston in late May, where she dashed home in a 57.3s last half-mile before being runner-up in the heat and final of the Sweepstakes series in Hobart.
She returned to Launceston last week and contested a three-horse race. The filly sat on the back of the leader and sprinted home best in a 27.4s final quarter in a race in which only two runners finished.
“I was very happy with her. They got home in a quick last quarter, and she peeled off the back of them and ran home good.
“We wanted to sit her up and teach her to settle. In the Sweepstakes, when she led, she overraced a little bit, and I don’t want her to end up like her mother in that aspect,” said Reggett, who is happy with how the pacer has come through the run.
“We fast-worked her on Wednesday, and she jogged around, so she came through the run good.
Smooth Reason’s older half-brother, Smooth Machete, will line up later in the night in the Book Your Christmas Function With Us For 1 December Pace (2200m).
The Ultimate Machete colt was a late scratching on vets advice for the Beautide in early August, with the pacer bouncing back with a win in the David Medhurst Memorial (2090m) in early September, where he proved too good in windy conditions.
“He pulled up from that win, and I have been happy with his work since then.
Brodie Davis took the drive in that event, which was restricted to claiming novice drivers, and he will retain the drive this Sunday.
“He drove him well last start. We will try to use that junior driver claim a bit now. When you get up in grade with the three-year-olds, you have got to try and use everything you can, as they usually end up racing free-for-all horses.
“He will go to the Tassie Derby, and he may have a start in between. Then, after that, there will be the Globe Derby heats and final,” Reggett said about the future plans for the pacer.
The eight-race Launceston card will be shown on Sky Racing 1 and Tasracing TV. The first race is scheduled for 18:07.
