Tasracing

Black Tsunami proved a popular winner for his proud connections when taking out the $7,560 Devonport Country Derby Final (461m) at Ladbrokes Park in Hobart on Tuesday afternoon.

The Mick Stringer-trained 2023 Maiden Thousand placegetter went off as the race favourite to land the lucrative $5,270-to-the-winner contest over the 461m, which brought together a talented field, but it was the Shima Shine x Ritzy Chicki chaser who pulled out all stops to claim his trainer a maiden Country Derby triumph.

Going off as race favourite ($3.20) in landing the North West Club feature event, Black Tsunami was led in the early stages of proceedings by Ah We’re Tight and Fawn Shadow but weaved his way right through that pair when approaching the first turn, before launching a bold winning challenge coming around the home bend.

Taking control of proceedings in the straight, the Blue Army Syndicate-owned chaser, put the race to bed quickly, although Legendary Danger ($9.50) ran on nicely to test the favourite in the shadows of the post.

Trainer Mick Stringer and HGRC Committee member Paul Young with members of The Blue Army Syndicate after Black Tsunami claimed the Devonport Country Derby Final in Hobart on Tuesday 30 May.

At the line, Black Tsunami scored by three quarters of a length over Legendary Danger, with Fawn Shadow ($5.50) crossing the line in third as the winner clocked an impressive 25.69s bringing up his ninth career win.

“I really couldn’t be happier with Black Tsunami’s performance, he’s starting to put it together,” Mick Stringer said.

“When we’re doing the breaking in process, he was starting to run fast times, though you go back and watch the first few starts he looked really green and kept on missing the start, but now he has turned the corner.”

Stringer firmly believes Black Tsunami is on a path to bigger and betting things for his connections.

“I have taken a real likeness towards this dog. He is a terrific looking animal who continues to improve.

“I look closely at his sectional splits during his races and he improves them bit by bit at every start, if we continue to place him right amongst the grades available I believe this dog will have big few months ahead of him.

“I’m very grateful to be training such a handy dog for the owners (The Blue Army Syndicate), Tony Rogers (Manager) and the others are fantastic blokes to deal with, they’ve had a runner previously in my kennel a few years ago, they’ve got some more pups from Ritzy Chicki’s next litter that look very promising,” Stringer added.

Devonport Country Oaks

Meanwhile, veteran trainer Gary Fahey celebrated a proud victory alongside his daughter Carol Martin, landing his third Ladbrokes Devonport Country Oaks title with Roxy Rocker leading all-the-way to claim the feature.

Owner Carol Martin and HGRC Committee member Paul Young with Roxy Rocker at the Devonport Country Oaks presentation.

Sent out to the boxes as the $2.50 second elect, the daughter of El Grand Senor and Just Browsing led easily from box rise, to make it her seventh career win, scoring by five lengths over Manila Puno ($2.45 fav) and Miss Butterfly ($81), joining Jouster (2017) and Mini’s Magic (2022) as Fahey’s winners of the Devonport Country Oaks feature.

Brighton trainer Paul Young celebrated his first ever winning treble in six years as a trainer, with members of his kennel claiming three races on the day courtesy of Jamella Rocket, Little Blue Man and Never Wrong.

From six runners engaged on Tuesday, Paul finished third and fifth in the Devonport Country Oaks Final with Miss Butterfly and Can’t Say, finishing off with a quinella in race 9 with Never Wrong and Speak Now.

Watch Black Tsunami (3) take out the 2023 Devonport Country Derby Final in Hobart.