Undoubtedly the hardest meeting I have ever tried to assess with seemingly half the field in every race resuming from a spell so be treading very warily betting wise. It does show however that Tassie Harness Racing is relatively healthy with full fields in every race and an 8 race program. The other thing to note is that all races are worth $5000 despite it clearly being a secondary meeting in the eyes of participants - just wanted to point that out as $5000 is the exact amount that all country races are run for in Victoria which shows how bad they are going currently.
My stats actually show that Devonport is the best place for me to bet as due to the nature of the track the speed map means just as much as the formguide but this meeting is simply too hard. I gave up an race 7 in the end, if you are taking a quad or a double with that race then take the field as impossible to rule any horse out.
Race 1
1 SCARLETT BLAZE $4 has run some terrific races at times this season but past couple have just been a tad below best. From this gate though is a leading hope as if he led and raced at his best would win for sure
2 THE ACES $9 raced without luck last campaign so ignore the figure form as right in this on best form. Must respect at first run back
3 ELLIE LATTE $4.5 first starter who trialled very well here recently and also chased home a couple of smart ones at the trials prior to that so is a huge watch
4 NO TIME TO DREAM $34 resuming and whilst she did race some handy ones last time in this still looks too tough
5 JOEY MERCURY NZ $26 has run some cheeky races at times but from this gate first up prepared to risk
6 SURPRISE PURCHASE $8 goes best when drawn to lead and mighty hard to do that from this barrier at Devonport but will be going forward early and if found the front would be a huge chance and still a rough hope if doesn't lead as can work in his races
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7 APACHE ALBA $21 wasn't too bad last time and draws to take the cheap way home so one for exotics
8 TENT PEG (Em 1)
9 TRELAWNEY $51 first starter and been pretty plain at the trials
10 REALLY IMATIGERESS $26 has some ability but may find it tough from this draw, not the worst
11 LINE THE POCKET NZ $3.8 simply enormous last time against better than these making up a ton of ground in a 28.8 closing split. Hard to be confident from this draw around here though but take a ton of beating with even luck
Ratings 11/1/3?/6/2/7
Race 2
1 MODERN ANGEL $1.80 is a filly taking on the boys and has a lot of ability but can get it wrong at times, showed some early speed at last run so if led up here would be entitled to start fav
2 PUBLICAN PETE $3.8 resuming and has been in the market at every run and also been competitive. Would need to be at the top of his game if the pole led but still clearly the main danger
3 THE JET $15 resumes without a trial and did run well at debut 3 starts back so keeping relatively safe whilst fresh despite finishing last at his 2 subsequent runs
4 PARKMOUNT LADY $34 first starter who hasn't set the world on fire at the trials
5 SHEZALITTLERUSTLER $51 had 4 starts and never looked likely, wait until she shows something
6 BENJI VEE $11 won his first 2 starts as an early 2YO but hasn't been placed in 8 subsequent runs, however his first up run wasn't too bad in a stronger race so if gets any luck from the barrier may surprise
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7 ZIMERO $34 form on paper reads 7444 which doesn't look too bad but in reality its last, 2nd last, last and last so isn't as impressive as it seems. Has finished close up a few times though and trials haven't been awful so with the trailing draw maybe one for the first four
8 BARE ROCK BOY $21 was in the market on debut when got it wrong and hasn't trialled so hard to assess but from the 2nd row am prepared to risk unless there is some major backing for him
9 SMILEUPONUS $11 good run in a strong race last time, certainly has her share of ability but manners let her down currently. If puts it together is a good place prospect though
Ratings 1/2/6/9/3/8/7
Race 3
1 PRINCE CALAF $6 ex Victorian with average form but joins in form stable and has gatespeed which is a huge positive around here. Big watch
2 TRULY BLISSFULL $4 inconsistent mare who has plenty of ability at best, hasn't trialled publicly for her return but is a must include
3 CHANCEABET $4 tough pacer who has run a couple of shockers this time in but outside of those runs has form good enough to win this, will get put into the race and provided he is on his game will take plenty of beating
4 ULTIMATE SECRET $21 another resuming but only had average form last time in so prepared to risk
5 WINDY WINGS $15 had support but didn't do much at first Tassie run, obviously doing something to justify the support so keeping safer than form suggests. Also engaged in Hobart Sunday
6 JANSZOON $7 both Tassie runs have been okay in better company, will probably have to circle the field to win here which is a big ask but is in the mix
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7 BENJAMIN SHANNON $21 yet another horse resuming off average form, draws to get a cheap run but place looks best
8 COMMANDER DATA $21 usually goes okay here but best runs have been when drawn to use its gatespeed so wait for a front row draw
9 LIVIN N HEAVEN NZ $15 going better than form suggests, 3 wide the trip in a much harder race last time. Draw does it no favours but will appreciate the drop in class and may surprise
10 ROCKY CREEK $11 excellent run when resuming and did plenty of work in the run and boxed on bravely, another who is best suited when drawn the front but has some hope if can work into the race
Ratings 3/2/1/6/10/9
Race 4
1 NIBEBO ($5,000) $21 form is average to say the least but isn't going quite as bad as it seems. Wouldn't surprise to see him bob up in the placings if does everything right
2 PRINCE OF TARA NZ ($5,000) $17 resuming for a new stable and whilst he he usually a reliable stand performer (led at past 4 stand start runs) his form prior to a spell was average and he isn't getting any younger so prefer to watch
3 THE CHEROKEE CHIEF NZ ($5,000) $11 just continues to run an honest race every week, needs a bit to go his way to win but certainly won't shirk the task
4 RONNIE RAT ($5,000) $4 looks extremely well graded dropping back from FFA grade and usually loves stand starts, if he led he shouldn't get beaten. Looks a decent buy at the price to be honest
5 WATERLOO BAY ($5,000) $5 the king of the claimers who has won 8 of past 13 at this level and been placed 2nd on another 3 occasions but has led the majority of the time and there is plenty of speed under him here so prepared to risk a little. Too honest to leave out though and if led again would go mighty close
6 ROCK AND RUN ($5,000) $21 went too poorly last time to be a factor here
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7 MY CENTURION NZ ($5,000) $15 usually runs an honest race so might sneak into the placings
8 ALBERT JONES ($7,000) $6 well graded on best form but was a shade disappointing last time but still wasn't too bad. Will be around the mark somewhere
9 BONNY WEE LADDIE ($7,000) $4 has had races run to suit and been well driven to capitalise at past 2 when has smashed them, he is flying at the moment and if the leaders run it truly again which looks some chance then he would be the one to beat
Ratings 4/9/8/5/3/field
Race 5
1 AS YOU WISH $7 loves to follow speed and with his stablemate drawn gate 2 he is likely to get every hope, if the split comes he might blouse them late
2 KEPT CALM $3.5 led and got nabbed on the line in a harder race last time (finished off in 58.6), if he leads around here will take a ton of running down
3 OUR SIR THOMAS $15 sit/sprint type resuming and would be competitive in this at best but prefer place only
4 BORNFIRST $34 generally goes well on this track but past few have been ordinary so wait until he shows something
5 SPECIAL GALLENTI $8 been racing in good form but goes best when drawn to lead and would be the one to beat if he did lead but doubt he will get over here so may struggle as tends to pull hard when he doesn't lead
6 PAV AND KIM (Em 1)
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7 IN CRUISE MODE $15 resuming and has plenty of ability at best, likely to be buried on pegs from here though so will need plenty of luck to figure
8 CRASH CART $3.5 bolted in last time after a dream run in transit, follows out a quick beginner here so looks likely to enjoy a similar run again. Hard to beat
9 KING ALBERT $15 this is the easiest race he has met in a long time but its also a long time since he won, one for exotics
10 MURPHYS ROCKET $15 unsuited by the tempo last week when unable to work into race, will obviously need it run to suit to figure from this draw but going as well as anything
11 TROJAN CALM NZ $34 didn't do a lot when resuming and whilst is well up to this race on best form its hard to make a case from this gate
Ratings 2/8/1/5/10/9/7/3
Race 6
1 INCHBYINCH $2.0 disappointing animal who looked like becoming a fair horse when younger, still draws to lead here and take a ton of running down
2 CELTIC LEGEND $6 honest type who is always thereabouts, doesn't win out of turn but will be around the placings somewhere
3 PRINCESS GANGSTER $26 resumes and wasn't too bad at first couple of starts but prefer to see
4 RAMSAYS FURY $15 was actually a fair run last week when resuming, might be value for exotics
5 SPACE KNIGHT $51 form simply isn't good enough to feature from this gate
6 JUST LIKE THUNDER $11 resuming and generally is competitive but the draw makes it tough
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7 POP BILLY (Em 1)
8 DREAM OF THE WEST $15 one paced mare who whacks away all day, draws to follow the speed here though so looms as a distinct place chance
9 LOOK LOOK $21 ran a couple of decent races earlier in the season and hasn;t had the best of luck of late, might run a race at odds with luck
10 INTHENICKOFTIME $21 another who is going better than form suggests, probably can't win but will certainly be including in exotics
11 PROVENANCE $7 well up to winning this on best form but is resuming and has a horror gate to overcome, has also broken at past 3 starts so needs to be taken on trust a bit. Maybe just watch him with an eye to the future betting wise
Ratings 1/2/11/7/6/4/9/10
Race 7
1 MISTER GALLENTI $4 stand is a bit of a query as with a lot of runners here but is going well so if steps its a huge advantage in a 2200m race around here
2 FORTY TWO GRAND $8 changed stables after being claimed last week, recent efforts have been honest but still some hope by the very nature of the race
3 TELLMESOMETHINGOOD NZ $13 been ordinary in all Tasmanian runs so far, has had a break though so might go better this time in but would need to. Watch betting
4 MOLLIE FINN $9 fair run when resuming when had every hope and battled away, would need to do everything right to be a winning hope but can't rule her out
5 PENNYS DRAGON $13 be well up to this class on best form but recent form has been below par, last run was a touch better though so might be ready to show something
6 SWEETEN THE POT $7 form tapered off at the end of last campaign but resumes here and at her best would be very competitive. Watch market
7 GRAND BROOK $17 honest type who is never far away but rarely wins so place may be best
8 MIAMI ROCKET NZ $6 appeared to have his chance last time but they did run 1.59 so may have gone better than it looked in hindsight, will need to do everything right from here but is still one of a host of winning hopes
9 JUST MAKE OUR DEIGH NZ $7 well backed at FFA level last time when led and faded, the handicap makes things tough here but clearly well up to this on class
10 DODGERMEMATE $9 another who looks well graded but I can't emphasisie enough how tough it is to win from handicaps around Devonport, still must include as is simply better than most of them
Ratings 1/?????????? Simply too hard, definite field job
Race 8
1 LITTLE MISS AJAY $26 has run the occasional good race in the past but simply didn't do enough first up to rate a chance even from this draw around here
2 KOIZORA $4 looks the leader which is always a plus around here, if she gets left alone might become the one to beat
3 MIGHTY MYF $34 form simply isn't good enough
4 SASSY RULER $8 honest mare resuming, lacks a bit of speed but never shirks the task so a must for exotics
5 DAINTY SUNRISE $51 need a massive improvement on recent form
6 ROCK THE POCKET NZ $7 not well drawn but been finishing close up with the other favs recently so some hope with luck
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7 KATES ALLY $13 has pulled very hard at all Tassie runs, wouldn't be surprised to see improvement at first start back
8 LOLA BROMAC NZ $1.80 looks well placed here, has good trailing draw and clearly the one to beat
9 BAJARDO RIVER $17 always races well here so despite being pretty plain of late she might bob up into the placings
Ratings 8/2/6/4/9/7
