A good 3 surface was presented at UBET Park in Hobart on Sunday and we saw the track race exceptionally well. Punters got off to a flier with the first 4 favourites getting the money, before some competitive races in the quadrella legs produced some bigger dividends. Scott Brunton again took the training honours on his home track with 4 winners, while Victorian based apprentice Damien Thornton rode a double in a competitive day for the jockeys.
Race 1 1:09pm MMIB 3yo Maiden Plate (1100m)
The last couple of months have produced a number of impressive 3yo maiden winners and Nunivak looks another with a big future. Well supported from $2.80 into $2.25, the son of Artie Schiller led comfortably and when asked for an effort on straightening he dashed away to win by nearly 5 lengths. His sectionals stack up too – only Ryan’s Daughter ran a faster last 400m on the day.
Bushranger Boy ran right up to his form and held second after sitting outside the leader, but the winner was clearly in another class. Gee Gees Cool Gal finished off well for 3rd, just ahead of a handy performance by debut filly Genuine Art. Nadaam was the disappointment of the race finishing 5th, but was just under a length behind 2nd, and may be better suited running along in the lead rather than taking the sit as he did in this.
Race 2 1:44pm Spectran Group 3yo & Upwards Maiden Plate (1000m)
D’inzeo was always very short in betting here following a big trial win and while it got a bit close for comfort late he always had the race in control. The $2.05 controlled the race from in front on the fence and did enough to win on debut. Mel Loves Vodka was arguably unlucky in second, as she was held up behind the leader on turning and engaged in a bumping duel with Lotza Kitty yet still hit the line hard late when clear. Her stablemate Hello Gertie was clearly best of the run on horses, making good ground against the shape of the race to run 3rd.
Lotza Kitty was easy in the market and only plain in the run home, although her scuffle with Mel Loves Vodka on straightening may have knocked the stuffing out of her. Shorty Knox was strongly supported from $13 into $4.80 (aided by a couple of late scratchings) but for the second time in a row this prep the money stayed in the bag as he finished a well beaten 5th.
Race 3 2:19pm THA 3yo & Upwards Maiden Plate (1400m)
Geegees Gran Lodge received plenty of positive press through the week and showed exactly why here with a dominant display. He put the writing on the wall a fortnight ago and thanks to a silky ride from Siggy Carr he was never going to lose. The Tasmanian Derby has been mentioned as a target for this horse and while this was just a maiden, it looks like we’ll be seeing plenty more of this colt. She’s Rosie had shown very little form but improved out of sight here to run 2nd, while Ollie’s A Star started second favourite and ran honestly again in 3rd. Hidden Forever was disappointing, finishing a well beaten 7th after starting a clear third pick at $4.20.
Race 4 2:55pm KPMG Benchmark 82 Handicap (1600m)
Perplexing won in dominant fashion a fortnight ago but it seems punters weren’t totally convinced as she was sent out a $2.60 equal favourite on the fixed odds in the field of 4. That said, tote punters seemed convinced, with big late money seeing her start $1.90 on the local tote. The firmer track and slower tempo compared to her last win proved no problem at all as Anthony Darmanin drove her up along the inside to run down the leader and score comfortably. She was working towards the major cups last year until a mishap and you would expect that would be the plan again as she looks to have returned a better horse this prep.
Clan Mcleod enjoyed a good run in front and again ran well. She is crying out for a softer track and is cherry ripe to cash in if she can find one soon. Chi Gong found the task too hard to come around the leaders to run them down, while Bag Of Monkeys was very plain after racing outside the leader.
Race 5 3.35pm R M Worbey Construction Maiden/Class 1 Plate (2100m)
This race was run at a strong gallop and the form should be quite reliable out of this as a result. Cheryl’s Horse and Dhanraj were the best runs of their race a fortnight ago and with both enjoying gun runs just behind the leaders it is no real surprise that they fought out the race. Cheryl’s Horse was able to stick his nose out right on the line to get the prize after Dhanraj was able to pinch a break on him around the corner while he was held up back on the inside.
Dhanraj had no excuses but still ran very respectably and surely it is just a matter of time before he breaks through. Young Robin was up sharply in trip but turned in a career best performance to run 3rd and showed he can run some forward races over the staying trips. Our Winston was the disappointing runner of the race finishing a well beaten 4th but he was forced to make his run quite early and wide around horses who were going nowhere and was unable to sustain his run to the line.
Race 6 4:15pm Riding for the Disabled Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m)
A real blanket finish to this race with the first 5 across the line only separated by three quarters of a length. Blood Orange showed why he was well supported first up, going forward to sit outside the leader and toughing it out in the straight to hang on for the win. Race leader Skip To The Moon battled on well for 2nd and these two were clearly able to run the race in front to suit as they stuck on to run the quinella.
Milson was no doubt the unlucky runner of the race, and unsuccessfully protested against the winner in what looked a real touch and go decision for stewards. He has run well at both starts this time in and despite being 8 years old, he has only had 21 career starts and could have a bit to offer in the upcoming Summer Carnival. The other eye catching run was Helluce who finished her race off well to finish close up and show she is back on track after a disappointing start to this campaign.
Race 7 4:54pm Nutrimetics Class 1 Handicap (1400m)
Mikayla’s Raider made it two in a row here thanks to another great ride from Shiralee Maher, who was able to find the one out one back position and time her run into the race perfectly. She had plenty of opposition from Crib Point, who also received a great ride from Ismail Toker. She was able to track up behind the eventual winner and looked the winner at the 200m mark but just flattened out on her run to be beaten a nose. Race favourite Blu To Be Sure settled much closer than usual on the slower tempo but was held up behind the leaders on straightening and couldn’t bridge the gap when clear in the straight. The slow tempo in this event means it might be hard to take much from the race going forward, but of the beaten brigade Must Be Love was able to run on well as she tends to do, running the 7th fastest last 400m of the meeting.
Race 8 5:30pm Swinging Batchelor Class 2 Handicap (1100m)
Ryan’s Daughter resumed here with a stunning win that had trainer Troy Blacker talking up feature mares races such as the Bow Mistress and the Vamos afterwards. Still a clear last at the 300m mark, she came thundering right down the outside with some amazing sectionals to land the prize by half a length. Breaking 11 seconds for the last 200m, she ran a whopping 3.5 lengths faster than any other horse on the day for that last section, and ran clearly the fastest last 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m splits of the meeting. The win was visually breathtaking and the figures just as good. Don’t expect to see her pay $13 on the tote again any time soon!
Spare a thought for Just Run, who was beautifully ridden by Anthony Darmanin and looked to have the race shot to bits before being swamped by a freakish performance. A win is surely near for him if he keeps performing as he has been this prep. Zigold was also excellently ridden by Raquel Clark to run 3rd, with the promising Shiralee ran on stylishly for fourth in what was a pleasing return. Geegees Brightstar was a disappointing favourite but he copped a check approaching the home turn and made contact with the running rail so you could excuse him for not finishing the race off on that basis.