The state’s reigning leading female trainer titleholder Juanita McKenzie is still in search of her first winner for the 2018/19 season.
Tonight in Launceston Juanita has two runners from her Magra stables Laredo Torpedo in race four the Elders Insurance Launceston Pace and The Aussie in race six the Great Northern Super Crisp Pace.
“Laredo Torpedo is a work in progess, he galloped excessively on debut in the state and finished last but his effort to run fourth last week was solid, he worked home well down the outside and only beaten two to three metres (2.7-metres) in the race won by Pushkin,” said Juanita.
“Ricky (Duggan) was happy with his run and said he felt good so I’m expecting further improvement from him tonight, he has always had a few issues but we will keep working on those as the season goes on and get him sorted out.”
Juanita has slowly been cutting back her team over the past couple of years but one horse she won’t be parting ways with is the ever consistent The Aussie.
“I’m trying to concentrate more on life-balance these days and so we don’t have as bigger stable as in the past and I’m happy with that, I can put more time into family and also focus more on the better performers,” said a contented Juanita.
“The Aussie would have to be the most honest horse I’ve ever been associated with, he is Mister 100% every start, he won six races last season and flew home when third to Illegal Immigrant in Launceston a fortnight ago.”
“We were very confident he would race well last week but he suffered broken gear at the start and was retired from the event but he looks well suited tonight in a small field on the second line as I believe he races better from behind.”
Mark Yole comes off his first bag of four winners in Hobart and has another handy book of eight drives including two of his winners from last week and the popular pick Mornings in race one,
The Ben Yole-trained Dawn Ofa New Day-Frans Jewel three-year-old has won its only two runs in the state with Mark in the gig on both occasions.
Mark will also attempt to guide El Jays Monet to a winning hat-trick in race six and will again partner Im Barney Rubble in search of back-to-back wins in race seven the Impress Print Claimer.
Mark’s other major hopes of repeating his sensational effort of a quartet of winners come in race five the Carlton Draught Stakes with Lake Eyre and in the last on the card the Chartley Estate Trotters Discretionary with the Adam Emery prepared Ten Caisses.
Tonight’s eight event Launceston Pacing Club card, commencing at 17.00, may be viewed on the live stream service at tasracing.com.au.
Shane Yates