TASMANIA’S leading reinsman Gareth Rattray hopes to be back in the sulky for the start of the new harness racing season next month.
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Rattray has been sidelined for about three weeks after having an operation to relieve recurring headaches.
His partner Melissa Maine said yesterday that he was ‘‘getting better but still not doing a lot’’.
‘‘He might start driving trackwork again in a week or so and is aiming to be back for the first race meeting of the new season (on September 7),’’ Maine said.
Rattray was on target to drive 100 winners for the third time in his career until forced to take a break.
But he will still win the reinsmen’s premiership for the ninth year in a row, having won 95 races in 2013-14.
Rattray drove 113 winners in 2007-08 and 115 in 2009-10.
¦Tasmanian horses engaged in the Breeders Crown semi-finals in Victoria at the weekend have had mixed luck at the barrier draws.
At Ballarat on Saturday, Resurgent Spirit and Boasson Hagen both drew outside the front row in barrier 7 while Barynya drew outside the second row in barrier 11.
But it was a better result at Melton on Sunday, with Pachacuti and Spitfire Rose both drawing the pole and Delightful Christian inside the second row.
Barynya is third favourite at $4.60 in the fixed-odds market on her race while Resurgent Spirit and Boasson Hagen are both outsiders.
Markets have yet to be posted for Sunday’s semi-finals.