Tasracing

Despite sitting three wide for the trip, promising filly Crack The Shutters proved way too good in the 2yo Maiden (1100m) to kick punters off on the right note in Hobart on Sunday

Heavily backed to start the $1.35 favourite, Crack The Shutters raced to the lead once they straightened for home and scored easily from Colonel Bogey ($9) who came from last in an eye-catching debut to finish second with Wolf Junior ($8.50) in third spot.

“She did a good job today. We had to back off her this week more than you would want going into a race, but she’s very clean-winded. She’s got a good set of lungs and good constitution,” trainer Stuart Gandy said.

“I think she showed on debut she’s got a heap of talent, a very laid-backed filly, very professional, she’s got a nice turn of foot and does everything right.”

Leading jockey Anthony Darmanin was having his first ride on the filly and was suitably impressed.

“This filly has a done a mighty job today to win because every time I tried to get a spot one would come with me and keep me out wider. She deserved to win today after the hard run she had; it was a pretty big win,” Darmanin said.

Crack The Shutters will likely tackle the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes in Launceston on Cup Day.

Blacker treble

The green and white colours of Armidale Stud, and their sire Alpine Eagle, made it a race-to-race double when Caught Alight ($7.50) led all the way to win the 1000m Maiden, beating the well-supported Fluffy’s Girl ($2.60) with Mister Manihi ($3.70) third.

“She’s always shown promise and has gate speed, every time she trials up home she wins pretty easily. Craig Newitt rode her last time at Mowbray over six furlongs and ran fifth and said step her up in distance, but I went the other way freshened her right up and went back in distance,” trainer John Blacker explained.

Caught Alight (J.Radley) wins a maiden in Hobart on 16 February.

“I said to “Jacko” (jockey Jackson Radley), it’s only a field of eight, outside barrier, try and ride her like her trials, go to the front and dictate from there.”

Caught Alight is a lightly raced 5yo, having raced just eight times for Sunday’s win and a minor placing.

Blacker and his stable apprentice Radley made it a double when Sandual downed the favourite Sh’bourne Midnight ($1.75) by a nose in the tightest finish of the day in the 1430m Class 3.

Sandual had been unlucky in recent starts but was a market drifter easing from $8 out to $13.

“All his runs have been good this time in, he didn’t have a lot of luck last start, so we backed him up. All his wins have been at 1400m, a smallish field, go forward and sit outside the leader and he toughed it out nice and strong,” Blacker said.

Blacker had his third winner for the day when his in-form stayer Vintage Diesel got home by the narrowest of margins in the 2200m 0-66 Hcp.

Vintage Diesel ($1.90 – $4) has won three of his past four starts and held on to defeat Lindrum ($4.20) by a nose with Happy Clan ($15) finishing third.

“We made a run down the back there, out three wide and with 59kg on his back he did a good job,” Blacker said.

The win was the 10th from 56 starts for the 7yo who raced in Victoria, South Australia and NSW before landing with Blacker in mid 2023. Vintage Diesel has won five races since coming to Tasmania, twice with Siggy Carr in the saddle and Hayley McCarthy has been aboard for his past three.