This weekend, harness racing returns to Burnie on Friday night before a day program in Hobart on Sunday. Trainer/driver Mark Yole will be prominent at both meetings and has given his thoughts on his drives at both venues.
Burnie, Friday 11 October
Race 1 – Online Model: I thought she went well two starts ago when I drove her at Hobart, but she didn’t do much last start. The draw is a tough one as there appears to be quite a bit of speed inside her. If I can’t get in early, I may have to go back and drive for luck or come with a run, then her best chance will depend on the tempo off the race.
Race 2 – Sapphire Gambler: Going terrific and it was very pleasing to get a win with him last week in Hobart. I think he is the form runner in the field, but the draw is tricky. There appears again to be a lot of speed to his inside so I will just have to see how it pans out early. I can sit him up or make a move if required. I think he’s a great chance again.
Race 3 – Whatta Good Reason: I thought he found the line well last week after getting left a bit flat footed off the back straight. He was first up there from a spell and the run will have done him well. He gets a good draw on the front row here and is generally a fast beginner, so I’d expect him to be leading. From there I think he will run a much-improved race and be hard to catch.
Race 4 – Major Ideal: Nice run last week when she stormed home to get second. Although not overly gifted with talent, she does get a great draw here and if she happens to hold the lead, she could run a cheeky race.
Race 5 – Gottahaveahobbie: His form does not look great, but I did trial him at Carrick a couple of weeks ago, where he qualified from the stand and began quite fast. I think his main chances hinge on whether he can begin quickly and put himself into a forward position. If he can do that, he could be in the finish.
Race 6 – Settebello: This is a lovely little horse. I thought he ran fantastic first up in the state three starts ago when he led and battled on strongly in a fast 1:57 mile. He then ran another handy race, but last week, I felt he was a bit disappointing. He worked hard to sit outside the leader and weakened. I believe he will be better sat up for one sprint, and from this draw, I think that will be my best option.
Race 7 – Velocity Stride: A handy old pacer. His last run was good, although he did get a lovely run. That race was much stronger than he meets here. The draw is awkward, but I will just have to try and weave some magic, and he wouldn’t surprise me to be right in the finish.
Hobart, Sunday 13 October
Race 2 – Lynryd Skynryd: My first drive on this handy pacer. He is first up from a freshen-up, but I think his trainer, Steve Lukac, has found a great race for him. He was a revelation last year after arriving from NZ and won through his classes even taking out the features, the Brighton Cup and the Toreace Flying Mile. He has good gate speed, and I think he could find the lead, but if that weren’t to happen, he could sit off the pace and finish off strongly. Great chance.
Race 3 – Deadly Assassin: Going along quite well. I thought his last month of racing has been good without too much luck. He gets an awkward draw here with plenty of speed to his inside. I may have to go back early and save him for one run. It wouldn’t shock me to see him in the money.
Race 4 – Keayang Fitzy: A really nice horse. He has been a little suspect at the standing start at his first few goes, he is definitely still learning. I’ll be aiming to get him away safely and then just play the race out from there. His form was outstanding this year, but I felt his last run was a shade disappointing, but he did do all the work outside Waterfront. It may pay to forgive that run. Although a small field, this is a strong race, but I do believe he is a great chance.
Race 5 – Keayang Kevin: A real eye-catching second last week. This free-legging pacer can mix his form a bit but that run looked like he was peaking. The draw is tough here but if the speed is on, he will be finishing off hard.
Race 6 – My Ultimate Jacko: Quite an interesting little horse is this fellow. He has shown that he possesses a really nice turn of the foot (sprint). However, I believe he only tends to do that when driven along the pegs and left-right until the final 300 metres. The mile is a plus, and from this draw I will follow the pegs and hope I can get a late split to be fighting out the finish. A real roughie for the weekend.
Race 7 – Kerala Star: A couple of good thirds at his past two runs, I think he could be ready to run a big race. I will attempt to use his gate speed and get into a forward position early. He is a pacer that takes a little bit to wind up to hit top speed so I will be aiming to do that with him in this field.
Race 8 – Jeremy Wells: He has been a bit of a disappointing horse since coming to Tasmania. He can pop up and run a race, but I just have felt he really hasn’t put his best foot forward as yet. This does appear to be a drop in class, and I’m hopeful of getting into a forward position and seeing if he can improve.
