Brighton harness racing trainer Rodney Ashwood will take two runners from his stable to Launceston on Sunday night, both of which have strong winning chances.
In one of the night’s features, the King Fillies & Mares Series (2200m), Ashwood is represented by recent Granny Smith placegetter, Chenin Beach.
The four-year-old daughter of Betting Line got stuck behind tiring runners in the Prelude when resuming from a break, before flashing home for second in the final behind Swiatek Leis to be defeated 4.2m, and in doing so, she recorded the fastest life half mile in the race of 56.57s.
Chenin Beach last start contested the $80,000 Beautide, where, like many in the race, she was left chasing a long way from home, behind Fighter Command in track record time.
On Sunday, she will be partnered by in-form reinsman Jack Laugher, from barrier four in a race restricted to Tasbred 3YO and Older Fillies and Mares with no more than four lifetime wins.
Laugher will partner Ashwood’s other runner, True Image, who lines up from the pole draw in the Impartial Stakes (1680m) for the maidens.
The three-year-old daughter of Poster Boy has been runner-up in two of his three career starts to date, and looks well placed in search of his maiden win.
There have been some minor time amendments to two races on the program.
Race 8 has been moved to 20:39, while race nine will be run at the slightly earlier time of 21:05.
In other harness racing news, there have been some race date changes for some meetings over the spring and summer months.
Due to a venue clash at the Wivenhoe Paceway, the Burnie meeting scheduled for 7 November has been moved to 13 March.
An opportunity for two Sky 1 harness meetings on Wednesday afternoon in March has seen two meetings scheduled initially for Friday nights in Hobart on 20 March brought forward to 18 March, and the meeting on 27 March moved to 25 March.
