Celebrity Royal holds out Triedtotellyou in Tasmania Pacing Cup

Mark Pitt’s tactical harness racing drive was the main factor in Celebrity Royal (Sweet Lou) downing the hot favourite Triedtotellyou in last night’s Group 1 $150,000 Tasmania Pacing Cup at the Elwick circuit in Hobart.

The lightly raced Celebrity Royal was having only his 11^th race start. Formerly trained by Victorian Emma Stewart was only recently transferred to local trainer Bill Dornauf. At his last start in the Heat of the Tasmania Cup he was comfortably beaten by Triedtotellyou who led all the way.

But in last night’s event, Triedtotellyou was on the outside of the second row while Celebrity Royal landed on the outside of the front row. Driver Rohan Hillier on Triedtotellyou eased right back early to a clear last with The Shadows just in front of him.

It was then that Pitt seized the initiative to cross over and take up the running with just over two laps left to travel. And at this stage Triedtotellyou was giving the leader up to 30 metres start. It was obvious that with Celebrity Royal running his first two quarters in a comfortable 31 and 29.8 seconds would run such fast final quarters that it would be difficult for Triedtotellyou to make up much significant ground.

Triedtotellyou made his run at the bell and was out three wide getting around the field. Pitt released the brakes and Celebrity Royal cleared away but Triedtotellyou continued to plug away and he moved into second. Celebrity Royal had a break on straightening and although Triedtotellyou refused to give in the margin was too great and Celebrity Royal hung on by just under two metres with Glenledi Elvis a further six metres away in third.

Triedtotellyou lost no admirers in his run which was still credible given the fast last quarters of 27.9 and 28.7 seconds and the start that he had to concede to Celebrity Royal.

Celebrity Royal is part owned by his breeder Peter Gleeson. He is out of the good race mare Our Celebrity (Mach Three) also raced by Gleeson. Our Celebrity  as a two year old won both the Golden Nursery and Southern Cross stakes Final. She is also the dam of the highly talented but injury prone Always Hot who has created an enormous impression in his eight unbeaten appearances including the VicBred super series for two year olds and then winning last year’s New South Wales Pacing Derby.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink