A challenging day’s racing at Hobart, with extreme winds resulting in tough conditions for horses and riders. This resulted in slower times and many of the winners coming down the middle after enjoying cover during the race, predominantly for the first half of the program until the races were pushed back one to allow the winds to die down. 7 different trainers had a winner on the program while David Pires took the riding honours with a double.
Race 1 2:02pm Foxtel for Business Maiden Plate (1100m)
Nadaam showed good improvement here 2nd up to break his maiden status in good style. Ridden for speed, he found the lead relatively comfortably and gave nothing else a chance under a strong front running ride from Brendon McCoull. While he might be a rung below the top 3yos this season, he has shown enough ability to say he can win again in the right race this prep.
Lotza Kitty ran an honest race again from outside the leader to finish 2nd and is edging close to a win when she finds her ideal race. First starter Only Kiss ran a nice race for 3rd, and may have been suited coming around horses on turning than running up behind the leader and losing a little momentum when waiting for the run. She looks to have a future. Favourite Turtles Nest had no excuses and was a bit plain in the run to the line despite making some ground, while another first starter One Shot Off showed plenty of ability to run 5th after being extremely wayward throughout, to the extent a warning was placed on her manners.
Race 2 2:37pm Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1400m)
Constant Velocity has had her issues, which explains her only having had 8 runs as a 6yo mare, but she showed here why the stable has persisted with her for such a long time with an impressive win. She was very well ridden by David Pires who had her comfortable racing midfield and ran on strongly to score by a space running away. A mile looks well within her grasp on that effort and while the overall times were slow, her last sectionals measured up well enough to suggest she can be competitive in class 1 company.
Gee Gees Cool Gal was a really tough effort in 2nd, having been caught 3 wide for the entire trip. She beat the rest of the field comfortably and kept finding the line despite the tough run. She’s really knocking on the door now and looks well placed in something similar next time. Invoice improved sharply to run a good 3rd after finding trouble in the straight, while She’s Rosie was alright running home for 4th. Race favourite Bushranger Boy was disappointing, but given the strong winds it is a little inconclusive to say whether he didn’t run the trip or found it hard facing the breeze outside the leader.
Race 3 3:12pm Women in Tourism & Hospitality Class 1 Handicap (1400m)
Lord Farquaad has been racing well this prep and finally got his reward with a strong win. In a very slowly run affair, he was able to get cover just behind the leaders and when he got clear he rattled home with the 2nd fastest last 200m of the meeting to win well. With his get back pattern he’s always going to need some luck but the small field definitely helped here and he did the job well.
Debauche whipped around the field on turning from last to reach the lead on straightening but that effort told and she flattened out on her run to just hold on for second ahead of the fast finishing Crib Point, who is racing in just about career best form. Race favourite Blu To Be Sure missed the boat on turning and then was checked at the 200m when starting to warm up, so his run is best forgiven. Duran was well backed as punters likely tagged him as the leader in a slowly run race but he was very disappointing running a well beaten 5th.
Race 4 3:47pm Lenna of Hobart Class 2 Handicap (1200m)
Follow My Dust has promised to be a horse of the future and is starting to put it all together. Despite getting back to last in a race that was only steadily run up front, he ran meeting-best sectionals from the 600 to round them up and get the prize. While the pattern generally saw the winners come down the middle it was still full of merit with the sheer amount of ground he had to make up and the time he ran to do so. Stepping up in trip will only benefit him and he looks a horse to follow over the Summer carnival.
Stella Etoile had no luck in the run when forced to race 3 wide on the speed, which is also against her preferred pattern of racing back in the field. This was probably due to the slow tempo rather than any decision from Victor Wong, and the fact she was still able to finish off her race strongly indicates she took little harm racing as close as she did. She was very strong and can win when she strikes a suitable race. Just Run was unlucky in the straight when having to switch off heels once the winner went past him and ran home well into 3rd. With a clear run in the straight he would have gone close and while he can’t crack it for a win yet this prep, only the hard to please would be jumping off him after that.
Race 5 4:18pm Lark Distillery Benchmark 62 Handicap (1000m)
Teriki took all the honours here after sitting 3 wide outside the leaders and still getting the prize. With a few horses sitting wide without cover and running well it might not have been as much of a disadvantage as you would usually expect, but the way he stuck at his task to pick up Gee Gees Jet after that horse pinched a break on him on straightening was impressive. He’s no 1000m squib, that’s for sure, and looks a horse with a good future.
Gee Gees Jet looked all over a winner at the 200m mark but knocked up the last bit with a slow last 200m. Being first up he probably ran out of gas as he didn’t do a heap of work early and may be better next time with the run under the belt. Savvy Princess and Laurenstar were both relatively unfancied but ran home well against their usual pattern, with both recording top 10 late sectionals for the meeting. Think the first two are the main ones to take forward, however.
Race 6 4:53pm Prime Thoroughbreds Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m)
Tinderbel was the roughest of the three Tegan Keys runners in this race but she cared little for the market and ran on well to record a good win. While her Devonport form was only fair for a race like this, she always travelled well for Anthony Darmanin and came down the middle with a well-timed run to score. This was a pretty good race so she can go on and race well in similar grade, with the turf likely to be her go over the Tapeta surface.
Clan Mcleod continues to run extremely well and nearly pinched this going for home on turning after sitting on the speed. Can’t speak highly enough of how she’s going but she tends to find one better on firm ground, so watch out if she can find a track with any sort of sting out. Milson, Chi Gong and Varian all ran well but would be better suited in a race of more tempo.
Race 7 5:28pm THA & Hostplus Goodwood Handicap (1000m)
Hellova Street had 61kgs to carry and a number of up and comers to contend with but the reigning Newmarket champ reminded them who is boss with a tough all the way victory.
He was well rated by David Pires, who did enough early to find the lead but paced him well enough that he was still able to run the 2nd fastest last 200m of the race to fight off the challengers over the last bit. He looks in great nick to defend his Newmarket crown but the handicapper could hold the key to his chances – a high pressure 1200m is going to be even tougher than this 1000m scamper.
Geegees Goldengirl and Geegees Doublejay both returned in good style with strong finishes to fill the placings but were beaten on their merits by the winner. He’s a star so that’s no shame, and both look in for good preps, likely taking different paths following next month’s Newmarket Handicap. Favourite Valiant Warrior was quite disappointing in 5th but wanted to hang in for much of the straight and didn’t look comfortable. He can improve towards the Newmarket if Adam Trinder can sort out whatever issue caused him to race below his best here.