Triedtotellya has returned to Tasmania in search of consecutive Ladbrokes Launceston Mile (1680m) victories.
The Rohan Hillier-trained and driven pacer went to Western Australia to contest the Nullarbor, where he was withdrawn prior to final acceptances, with the pacer fronting up a week later on 24 April in the Fremantle Cup, where he finished seventh, 10.9m behind Magnificent Storm.
The gelded son of Well Said has drawn barrier four on the second row in the $20,000 event.
Wesley Vale-based trainer, Charlie Castles, will be out to upset the favourite in the race, with two runners engaged in the feature.
He prepares Sabine, who has recently stepped up to open class racing, and Gordons Bay (pictured), who claimed Launceston’s premier pacing race, the Easter Cup three starts ago.
“They have both been racing well,” said the trainer.
Castles will take the reins on Sabine, a five-year-old mare, who has won nine races and been placed a further 13 times from 34 starts.
“I have been happy with how Sabine has been coming through that 75 to 105 level. She was thrown in the deep end a little bit last week (in the Elite Free For All) in Hobart, but she ran on really well. It is a shocking draw for her this week, but hopefully she can do the same,” said Castles.
She won two of five starts as a two-year-old before missing a large portion of her three-year-old season.
“I think she has flown under people’s radar a bit as she has run a heap of seconds and she has been very consistent, and I think she has a bit more in her still.
“I’ll just work out what we do from the draw as the race unfolds.”
The pacer was driven by Malcom Jones last start, but this week he will partner stablemate Gordons Bay, who was runner-up to Magnetic Terror last start in 1:55.0s.
“Magnetic Terror got a bit softer run in front than we thought, but he (Gordons Bay) still went well, and he has got an alright draw (barrier two on the second row), and Mal should be able to work his way through the field early, and he can drive his own race from there.
“He is a horse that if he can get a soft run, then he can come at them late,” said the trainer.
The Launceston Mile is scheduled for 18:50, with the first race set down for 16:27.
Launceston Mile betting as of noon on Friday: $1.30 fav Triedtotellya, $5.00 Shes Allaboutluv, $12 Glenledi Elvis, Gordons Bay, Stepping Stones, The Shallows, $21 and better others.
