Last season’s Tasmanian Three Year Old Colt and Gelding of the Year, Custom Harley, resumes from a spell in the final race of the seven-race card in Hobart on Sunday evening.
The four-year-old gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance won the Group 3 Globe Derby late last year and was unplaced in two starts early this season before heading to the spelling paddock.
“It is that transition as a young, inexperienced horse going up against the older, race-tough horses, and he didn’t have much luck in a couple of races either. We are going to go through that bit of a patch, transitioning into those better races,” said trainer-driver Heath Woods.
Custom Harley recorded an easy trial victory in Hobart on 26 May.
“He is going really well this time in, and he trialled well and is working nicely.
“He has drawn a bit wide, but he is right in it,” said Woods.
The winner of seven from 21 starts will be aimed at a Group 3 event in July.
“The Raider Stakes will be his main aim this time in, and then after that we will probably look at the Beautide,” said Woods, with the Raider Stakes to be held in Launceston alongside many other Devonport Harness Racing Club features on 20 July.
Woods also has Stepping Stones engaged on the Hobart card in race three, a National Rating 75 to 105 event over 2090m.
“I was fairly pleased with her first up (on 18 May). They ran a bit of time, and she probably just needed the run, but we were happy enough with the run.
“It’s not a great draw on Sunday, but we will just see how things work out at the start.
“She is working well, and there is no reason why she can’t run a good race,” said Woods.
Other runners in the Woods stable at present include The Shallows, who is back in work after having four weeks off after the Easter Cup, while two-year-old Barber Shop is back in work and is being aimed at the Sweepstakes series in Hobart in late July.
