Longford trainer-driver Todd Rattray will be chasing his third Hardings Group Devonport Pacing Cup (2698m) in Launceston on Saturday night.
Todd had previously won the race at the Devonport Showgrounds aboard Devendra, trained by his father Barrie in 2014, before training and driving Pachauti to victory off a 30m handicap in 2017.
In this year’s race, he has Star Major, who will have to overcome the back mark of 20m.
Star Major campaigned in the state for the James Rattray stable during last year’s Autumn carnival, winning heats of the Tasmania and Easter Cups before being runner-up in both finals.
The gelded son of Art Major returned to New South Wales and won eight races last season. His most recent win was over the 2300m trip at Menangle, which he won in 1:53.5s. That win followed an Inter Dominion campaign in which he finished down the track in the three heats.
Todd received the pacer just over a week ago and is happy with the pacer heading into Saturday’s Listed feature.
“He arrived over a week ago, and hopefully, the trip hasn’t knocked him about. We will see how he goes on Saturday,” said Todd.
“He was one of the best runs of the race in the Tasmania Cup last year, and he probably should have won one of those big races, but you do need luck in them, and he didn’t have it.
“He has done a good job up there (at Menangle) and has run some good times too, and hopefully he can do the same down here,” the trainer-driver said.
“His standing start manners are normally pretty good. But we will just see how the race is run, but with his recent racing at Menangle, his fitness won’t be a problem,” said Rattray when asked how he saw him getting into the race.
“He will be here until the Easter Cup, and then we will talk to the owners and see what they want to do.
The 10-race card on Saturday also includes traditional Devonport Harness Racing Club features including the Coastal Pacing Thousand and the Dash For Cash.
Races 1 to 3 are scheduled for Sky Racing 2, with races four onwards on Sky Racing 1.
Adrian Collins will have hosted coverage on Tasracing Live from 17:50.
