It’s high Stakes for trio
THE $40,000 Group 3 Globe Derby Stakes (2200m) for three-year-old pacers has long been a race loaded with talent and the field to contest this season’s edition in Launceston tonight is no exception.
Rocknroll Turbo, from the Rohan Hillier stable, and the Tony Petersen-trained Usain Jolt are likely to battle out favouritism with the in-form Harjeet also drawn to win if he can retain the lead. Outside chances must be given to the promising Johns Legacy and Sea Double Ugrant.
The top three met in a Globe Derby Preview two weeks ago in which Rocknroll Turbo emerged triumphant by a narrow margin over Usain Jolt, which was first-up from a spell, while Harjeet led and was overhauled at the finish.
The Preview was a battle of tactics and it should be the same tonight with the drivers of the three main chances sure to be relying on their tactical skill as well as having faith in the ability of their respective charges.
Harjeet has drawn gate two while Rocknroll Turbo will start alongside in three with Usain Jolt in gate seven on the outside of the front line.
If Harjeet’s trainer-driver, Todd Rattray, wants to lead he would only need to replicate how he started in the Preview to accomplish the goal, while Hillier has made it clear he prefers his horse to be sat up with cover to wait for a final sprint to the line.
Usain Jolt’s driver, Ricky Duggan, holds the key to how the race might be run because if he chooses to ease out of the early action and settle near the rear as he did in the Preview, he will be relying on Rocknroll Turbo making his run and try- ing to latch on to his back for a cart home.
However the race pans out tactically, the three aforementioned three-year-olds should fight out the finish with Rocknroll Turbo the most likely to emerge triumphant.
The other feature race on the 11-event card is the $40,000 Group 3 3YO Bandbox Stakes (2200m) for fillies, which should again be a battle between the dominant players in the Bandbox Preview.
El Jays Mystery rattled home to grab last season’s top two-year-old Playing Arkabella, but tonight’s barrier draw has the potential to reverse that result.
Playing Arkabella has drawn ideally in gate three, while El Jays Mystery has drawn the outside of the second row (10) owing to her manners that have forced stewards to place her out of the draw in mobile events.
El Jays Mystery scrambled out of her gear at the start in the Preview, forcing driver Ricky Duggan to take hold and ease her out to last. A repeat could be costly, so punters might look to support the Paul Hill-trained filly instead of taking the short odds to be dished up about El Jays Mystery.
On exposed form the Bandbox is a two-horse race.
The meeting will be broadcast on Sky 1 and Tasracing will provide a live hosting via its live steam on its website www.tasracing.com.au, including interviews with trainers and drivers pre and post-race.