Longford trainer Todd Rattray believes he has Pachacuti in good order for the Easter Cup series – he just hopes he’s available to drive the star pacer in the final.
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Rattray was suspended for four meetings for causing interference on Pachacuti while winning the Governors Cup in Hobart 12 days ago.
He has appealed and been granted a stay which will enable him to drive the seven-year-old in the second Easter Cup heat at Mowbray on Friday night.
The horse is going good and continues to work well
- Trainer Todd Rattray
However his appeal will be heard before the final on April 16 so he needs to win it if he’s to retain the drive in the $40,000 feature.
Pachacuti will be chasing his seventh consecutive win on Friday night and has to overcome a 40-metre handicap over the 2698m journey.
Rattray believes the gelding is equal to the task but it will require a good drive.
“He won the Devonport Cup off 30m but that was a longer race and I might have to drive him a bit differently this time,” he said.
“I can’t go as hard as I did at Devonport and will probably have to come a bit later (in the race).
“But the horse is going good and continues to work well.
“He had a freshen up before his last win and he’s right to go again.”
Rattray also has former New South Wales pacer Roger Ramjet in the first heat and gives him a place chance.
“The distance might not suit so I’ll have to drive him a bit quieter than I have been,” the trainer said.
“He had been going well but his last run was disappointing so I have freshened him up since then.”
Lone Victorian-trained runner Mighty Flying Mac is the backmarker on 30m in Roger Ramjet’s heat.
The Brent Lilley-trained gelding has won 15 races and $257,000.
Significantly, more than half his wins have been in standing-start events.
His first 14 wins were in New Zealand and he’s had only eight starts since coming to Australia late last year.
The $30,000 Tasmanian Derby is the feature event in Hobart on Sunday afternoon with two Victorian-trained horses taking on boom locals Scooterwillrev, Usain Jolt and Harjeet.
David Aiken will be represented by former Kiwi gelding Laredo Torpedo and Brent Lilley by the lightly-raced Peter Perfect.
The $10,000 Light Harness Tasmania Cup final is the other main race. Heat winners were Significance and Cemento Rapido.