Tasbred 3 & 4YOs set for Group 2 Finals

For the first time in Tasbred Finals history, the three and four-year-old finals will be held on the one program which has created a bumper night of racing in Launceston on Sunday night.

All four finals are being run at a record $60,000 for the first time.

It will be the first time the Granny Smith and Raider Stakes have been held away from the Devonport Showgrounds following that venue’s closure earlier this year.

Collins Homes Granny Smith – 20:12

Barooga Rock will be looking for back-to-back Tasbred Finals after scoring in last season’s Bandbox Final.

Trainer Ian Abraham gave the pacer a good spell after that win, with the daughter of Pet Rock going into the final fourth-up.

She finished second to Melnrowley in the first heat, staged in Launceston three weeks ago.

“I was happy with how she got up the straight,” said Abraham.

“The start before last, she hanged badly and broke. Natalee (Emery, driver) said she was travelling well before that,” added the trainer.

Abraham is happy with how he has the mare heading into the Group 2 Final.

“She is hard to draw a line on until you take her to the races. She is pretty lazy at home.

“In saying that I’m happy enough, I don’t think I can get her any better,” said Abraham.

All mares are going over the 2698m trip for the first time, which isn’t a worry to the trainer.

“I think it will suit her. I think she has always shown she is a better stayer than a sprinter.

Barooga Rock’s chances took a blow in Tuesday’s barrier draw when coming up with barrier eight.

“The barrier draw couldn’t be worse. It makes it pretty tough,” said Abraham.

The one to beat according to the market, and Abraham, is the Craig Hayes-trained Melnrowley, who has drawn ideally in barrier five.

“She is the class mare, and once she drew the front, it looks like she will find the lead, and she will be very hard to beat.

Market: Melnrowley $1.28, Barooga Rock $8.50, Lafond $14, Lalasa $16, Forgot The Wallet $17, others $23 or better.

Tasfreight Raider Stakes 20:42

Victorian trainer Emma Stewart has had 13 horses contest 12 races in Tasmania this year and has won all 12 events.

Favourite punters will be hoping that trend continues when Longfellow contests the Group 2 Tasfreight Raider Stakes.

Longfellow proved himself at the 2698m trip when winning the heat and final of the Group 1 Easter Cup earlier this year and goes into Sunday’s final third-up from a spell.

He led all the way to win his heat in Launceston three weeks ago by 6.1m.

Market: Longfellow $1.06, Rocknovertime $9.00, Lancelot $10, others $18 or better.

6ty° Bandbox – 18:37

It looks to be a race in three and the market certainly reflects that.

Iden Boutique was forced to sit parked and proved too strong in the opening heat on 23 October before finishing down the track a week later in Hobart in a national rating event.

The second heat was held in Hobart on 30 October and was won by Baby You A Song, who led all the way to score.

Mays Place, who was runner-up in last year’s final, has been amongst the placings in both heats.

Market: Iden Boutique $2.25, Baby You A Song $2.40, Mays Place $2.90, others $26 or better.

Nutrien Ag Solutions Globe Derby – 19:12

Mickey Oh was the pre-draw favourite after his heat win on 23 October and justified that with a career-best win in Hobart in a rating 50 to 55 event in Hobart on 30 October.

One could only imagine the delight trainer-driver Matthew Howlett would have had when he saw his stable star had drawn barrier one as the gelded son of Racing Hill chases back-to-back Tasbred Finals.

Market: Mickey Oh $1.75, Magician $4.80, Joe The Bookie $5.00, Mucho Mover, others $14 or better.

Coverage

TasracingTV will be live hosted with reinsman Adrian Collins taking the microphone to deliver the extended coverage.

Sky Racing 2 will show the opening race, with Sky Racing 1 showing the remainder of the card, which also includes the first heat of the Lees Orchard Tassie Golden Apple.

The opening race is set down for 17:39.