In Brief
- Longford trainer prepares half the card in Devonport.
- Blacker makes the most of added meeting.
- Muhcu teams up with Blacker to secure treble.
John Blacker took training honours in Devonport on Monday by notching four winners on the eight-race card.
The Longford-based trainer’s first winner arrived in the form of maiden performer Port Berry (Bulent Muhcu) that was backed in to start at $7.50 and won with ease.
Rider Muhcu had the mare settled beyond midfield but when he called on her for an effort, she powered home to win narrowly.
Blacker then produced Phenomenal Dancer to win at his first start for the stable with the former Victorian cruising to victory in a maiden-class one over 1650 metres with Craig Newitt aboard.
Phenomenal Dancer’s stablemate French Heiress won a maiden in November and after three subsequent minor placings, she proved too good for her rivals to score a half-length win in a benchmark 60 handicap over 1400 metres with Muhcu in the saddle.
Blacker and Muhcu combined to win the last with Rodessa that was heavily backed late to win a benchmark 66 handicap over 1880 metres with ease.
The meeting was an addition to the calendar following the abandonment of a meeting in Hobart on 27 December owing to damage to the track.
It was the fourth thoroughbred meeting in the space of 10 days with the next meeting scheduled for Launceston on Saturday night and another meeting in Launceston is on 20 January that boasts the $50,000 weight-for-age Ladbrokes Stakes (1200m) that will include star Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey.
The next meeting scheduled for the Hobart track is on 24 January that boasts the weight-for-age Summer Cup (2200m) and the $100,000 Elwick Stakes for two-year-olds.
Watch Rodessa storm down the middle of the track to win the last race on the eight-event program in Devonport on Monday.