Tasmanian harness racing fans were treated to a spectacular weekend of racing, with four of the state’s most exciting young pacers saluting the judge.
Scooterwillrev, Usain Jolt, Zhukov Leis and Harjeet head the most talented crop of three-year-olds seen in Tasmania for many years, and all showed their undoubted ability with stylish wins.
Two of the brilliant quartet are from the North-West Coast.
Zhukov Leis, bred by owners Trevor and Marjorie Leis at Smithton, scored impressively on debut in Hobart on Friday night in a heat of the Allen Williams Memorial.
Meanwhile Scooterwillrev, unbeaten in nine Tasmanian starts for Stowport trainer Craig Hayes, overcame a mid-race mishap to win convincingly in Launceston on Sunday.
The Tony Peterson-trained Usain Jolt had made it a one-act affair earlier in the night blitzing his opposition with a demoralising turn of foot on the home corner, while the Todd Rattray-prepared Harjeet treated his rival with contempt, notching up an effortless victory.
All four may well be on a collision course in the Tasmanian Derby next month.
Tasracing harness form analyst Jamie Cockshutt is excited about the prospect of the local stars taking on the mainland invasion.
"Scooterwillrev is the top seed. He is unbeaten in the state and his greatest weapons are speed and strength. These attributes added together make him a formidable opponent for his rivals,” Mr Cockshutt said.
"Usain Jolt is the clear second contender. He has gone to a new level this season and is still learning what the racing caper is all about.
“The 2579m Derby trip will suit him right down to the ground. In fact, if he keeps improving, the sky could be the limit.”
The two new kids on the block are both from the Todd Rattray stable.
"Zhukov Leis, a beautifully-bred half-brother to the injury-prone topliner Jaruzelski Leis, showed he has inherited the family bloodlines with an ultra-impressive win on debut.
“Harjeet, a son of Rocknroll Hanover resumed with a dominant win on Sunday night, dashing home in 57 seconds for the last half mile."
Tasmania's champion pacer Beautide won every start of his three-year-old year except the Derby, running a luckless fourth, but that failed to stop him going on to capture dual Inter-dominion championships and a Miracle Mile.
Cockshutt believes the current crop of three-year-olds is the strongest contingent for many years. "We've had three-year-olds in the past like Halyer and Astral Francais who were up there with the best in the country of their year and there may be another of that quality to come from this group."
By Shane Yates