Rattray chasing second Raider Stakes

The Devonport Harness Racing Club hosts its richest meeting of the season on Sunday night with prizemoney totalling almost $150,000.

For the second year in a row, trainer-driver Todd Rattray will have a short-priced favourite for the $50,000 Raider Stakes.

However the $50,000 Granny Smith will be more open after last week's prelude produced an upset winner in Brystabella.

The 2018 Raider Stakes saw the Rattray-trained Harjeet justify his $1.10 price when he led throughout to score by 26m.

His stablemate Izaha was almost as dominant winning his heat last Friday night by 16m as 1.30 favourite.

The Kate MacLeod-trained Shadow Ross was brave running down Tisu Spirit to win the other heat but his time was slower and, despite having won three of his past four starts, he won't be challenging Izaha for favouritism in the final.

Brystabella won the Granny Smith prelude as a $29 outsider after a very aggressive drive by her trainer Ray Pullen and, on face value, she would seem to have the other prelude runners covered if the brings the same form to the final.

Greg Mansfield

Reprinted with permission of The Advocate