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Make your Mark – Hobart 11/11 & Launceston 13/11
It’s a huge weekend of harness racing across the state, culminating in Sunday night’s 10-race program in Launceston featuring the Group 2 Tasbred finals. Trainer/driver Mark Yole leads punters into who he thinks are some of the best hopes across Hobart and Launceston.
Weekend best
Launceston Race 3 – 3. Iden Boutique
What a little trier this filly is. This is her grand final and she really gets her chance to cap off what has been a great season. She was very good in the heat of this race where she sat parked and proved too strong for the same field. Since then, she had a run in a much higher class race than this in Hobart. She drew outside the back row and worked around the field early. The last half was very slick, and she battled on admirably. Sunday, she gets a great draw for her. I will be pushing forward and should either lead or settle outside the leader where she loves to race. From there she should be very hard to beat.
Under the radar
Hobart Race 8 – 2. Cool Scooter
This fellow may not appear to have the best form in the race, but he does generally fly away from the standing start. He comes up with the two draw so I expect him to ping to the lead. From there I should be able to dictate my own tempo and if that happens, he will take plenty of catching.
Wish I was in the sulky
Launceston Race 7 – 4. Longfellow
Pretty obvious choice here. This 4YO gelding has just gone to a whole new level since joining the Emma Stewart team in Victoria. He won the Globe Derby last year and the Group 1 Easter Cup in April this year. He went for a spell after that and returned with what I thought was an average run at Melton. He then came over here for the first heat of this series where he zoomed to the lead, and other than a fleeting second on the home turn, it was a pretty easy win. He meets the same field here so should be pushing forward and most likely lead unless someone dares to leave him in the death. Either way, he should be winning again.
Black booker
Okay run in Launceston from this guy first-up last week. He settled well back, and I thought he made up good ground. He had a couple of trials before that debut effort and while he still has plenty to learn he did give me a nice feel. Here he gets an okay draw to follow through early and it does not appear to be a strong race on paper as these are all maidens. If he can work into the race over the final 500m he should be right in the finish.
Inside word
The inside word this week is a chat with the state’s starter Adam Emery.
