Hot to trot in Devon port
THE glut of feature harness races in Tasmania rolls on to the Devonport meeting tomorrow when the Devon port Pacing Club stages its timehonoured Raider Stakes and Granny Smith meeting.
The Raider Stakes heats were held in Launceston last Sunday with resurgent Storm and Pardoe Plugga the victors, but the barrier draw has thrown the race wide open.
Donny in Paris finished fourth behind Resurgent Storm in their heat, but the former has drawn the pole position (1) that gives him a huge advantage on the small and tight Devonport Showground circuit.
Resurgent Storm, prepared by Roger Whitmore, has drawn gate four on the front row but if his driver Rodney Ash wood is unable to cross Donny in Paris, he will most likely have to face the breeze throughout to win.
Pardoe Plugga impressed in his heat to win comfortably after racing roughly at the start before using his brilliant gatespeedtolead.
He set a steady tempo and drew away from his rivals over the concluding stages to score comfortably from Mister Gently, who also has drawn the second row on Sunday night and will need luck to turn the tables.
Todd Rat tray trained three of the four feature race winners on last Sunday’s card in Launceston and he hitch es up Jocund (3), who was third in his heat to Pardoe Plugga, and Jigamaroo (10) who was third in his heat behind Resurgent Storm. The Granny Smith for four-year-old mares could be one-way traffic if qualifying heat winner Still Hungover brings her Agameagain.
Still Hungover (Ricky Dugg an) demolished a strong field in the qualifying heat in Launceston last Sunday night, scoring by almost16m.
After that win Duggans aid it was the real Still Hungover that showed up that night.
“When she delivers her best, this is what she can do and if she takes this form into the final, she’s clearly the one to beat,” Duggan said after winning the qualifying heat.
The Rodney Ashwoodtrained mare has drawn barrier eight, one off the pegs on the second row, so she is going to need luck in running.
Her stablemate Spoilt Sport has drawn the pole (1) and that brings her into calculations, along with the Todd Rattray-trained Juniper who starts from gate two and must rate highly on her second to Still Hung over last Sunday.