Leading reinsman Mark Yole has an added incentive to win Saturday's Carrick Cup on smart pacer Sea Double Ugrant.
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It's the only country cup in Tasmania that Yole hasn't won since he relocated from Victoria a decade ago.
"For some reason I never seem to have much luck at Carrick," said the 31-year-old who was the state's premier driver for the second time last season.
"Hopefully I can turn that around on Saturday.
"I've always had a pretty fair opinion of Sea Double Ugrant which I why I've stuck with him since the first time I drove him."
In fact, Yole has driven the gelding at 18 of his past 24 starts and netted eight wins.
"The only drives I've missed have been when I've been away and last week when I had my own horse (Gotta Good Reason) in the same race," he explained.
Carrick trainer Peter Dornauf took the reins himself last start and had the misfortune to be knocked out of the sulky in a scrimmage at the start.
Sea Double Ugrant is co-backmarker on 20m this week but Yole is hoping his good standing-start manners will help him settle in a handy position.
"Touch wood he flies away," the driver said. "He's drawn behind horses off the front and 10m that normally begin quickly so we should get a fair run through."
While wary of the favourite Sunny Sanz, who is off the front, Yole expects Sea Double Ugrant to "run a good race."
"Sunny Sanz will be hard to beat - he trialled nicely at Devonport," the driver said.
"But, if we're within 10m of him turning for home, he'll know we're there."
Sea Double Ugrant finished only 4.5m behind the state's best pacer Ryley Major in the $30,000 Golden Apple at Mowbray four starts ago.
"He'd missed a bit of work in the lead-up to the Golden Apple series and was still under-done in the final," Yole said.
"I'm not saying he'd have beaten Ryley Major but with another run under his belt he would have been right in it."
The seven-race Carrick Cup meeting is non-Sky and non-TAB but there will be an on-course tote service and several bookmakers in attendance.
Price assessments -
1.80 Sunny Sanz; 7.00 Sea Double Ugrant; 9.00 Smart Little Shard; 11.00 Finn Mac Kee, Full Speed Ahead, Black Centurian; 15.00 Chasing Cheetahs; 21.00 Buster William, Poker Storm; 26.00 Somedan; 34.00 Northview Dave; 51.00 Just Say Go; 67.00 Chilla Breeze.
UNTIMELY BAN FOR 'CARELESS' NEWITT
Craig Newitt has some tough decisions to make after being suspended for two meetings for careless riding at Mowbray on Wednesday night.
Newitt was found to have shifted in on Border Protection at the 300m mark of the Class 1 Handicap when not clear of Worthy Opponent who was severely checked and nearly fell.
He pleaded not guilty, leaving the door open to an appeal which he has seven days to lodge.
As it stands, he will miss the Tasmanian Oaks and Launceston Cup meetings.
Before he appeals and seeks a stay of proceedings, Newitt also has to factor in that he has potential rides in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday week and Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 7.
Chief steward Scott Quill said Newitt's penalty took into account that the interference was in the high range but his degree of carelessness was in the mid to low range.
"Evidence from Worthy Opponent's rider Daniel Schmitt that his horse was laying out was also considered when weighing up the penalty," Quill said.
Newitt rode Newmarket contender The Inevitable to an easy barrier trial win at Elwick on Tuesday. Sportsbet has the Scott Brunton-trained star at $11 for the $1.25 million race.
MONEY SAYS CUP WELL CONNECTED
Ted Medhurst-trained greyhound Connected has been the early firmer in betting on Monday night's group 2 Launceston Cup.
After opening at $3.50 with tab.com.au, he has been backed into $3 while fastest heat winner Caishen has drifted from $1.80 to $2.
Connected has the red box and is unbeaten in three starts from that draw.
The market reflects the opinion of Caishen's Victorian trainer Anthony Azzopardi.
"I had a good look at the heats and was impressed with the dog that drew the red in the final (Connected)," Azzopardi said. "I'd say he'll be the hardest to beat."