Code Black tunes up for Tasmanian Derby

Former New South Wales three-year-old pacer Code Black tuned up for the Tasmanian Derby with an impressive harness racing victory in a CO Pace over 2200m in Launceston last Sunday night.

The colt had previously been trained in Sydney by Luke McCarthy after beginning his career in Victoria but is owners Danny Zavitsanos, of Geelong, and Warren Viney, of Spreyton, opted to send him to leading Tasmanian trainer Ben Yole for a tilt at the Tasmanian Derby

“Luke (McCarthy) told me that he was a pretty good horse but a rung below the superstars,'' Yole said.

“Hopefully we can keep him down here for a while because our prizemoney is better than a lot of the restricted-class races up there.''

Although Code Black didn't win by a great margin from El Major and Fleshing, driver Mark Yole said it was good enough.

"The colt only does what he has to," Mark Yole said.

“If you look at his record, none of his wins have been by huge margins.'

While the Yole team was happy with Code Black's effort so was El Major's trainer Paul Ashwood who says his horse also is in top shape for the Tasmanian Derby to be run at UBET Park Hobart next Sunday night.