The Members Quality was the feature race on a competitive 8 race program at Launceston on Wednesday night with Geegees Doublejay stamping his claims as a genuine Newmarket Handicap contender. Stuart Gandy produced a couple of smart horses in Geegees Doublejay and Gee Gees Jet to train a double, while Ismail Toker took the riding honours with a race to race double to kick off the program.
Race 1 6:10pm Matthews Family Maiden Plate (1400m)
This race saw a very slow tempo up front and a slow overall time as a result. Big Pegg was able to finally break through with a strong effort coming from midfield in the run. The fact the tempo remained quite slow down the side suited as Ismail Toker was able to pick up ground without asking for too much from the mare, and she finished off well with a sub-12 second last 200m to win narrowly. This mare has taken a bit to get going this prep but she looks suited to more ground and while this race doesn’t look a great form reference going forward, her late splits at her last couple of runs show she has something to take to the longer trips.
Olly’s A Star was well supported and given a peach of a ride by Anthony Darmanin but was just unable to hold off the winner. His spot behind the leader probably hindered him a little when the speed never really went on down the side, and had he got out a bit earlier he may have been able to pinch enough of a break turning to hold on. He’s a consistent if limited type who continues to race honestly. Dance South ran home nicely at big odds for 3rd and that makes two good runs in a row now after having no form at all before the trainer change to Paul Maher. There looks to be a race in her and might be suited up to a mile. Ruby Heart was very disappointing as the $2.80 equal favourite after leading and jockey Beau Mertens could offer no explanation.
Race 2 6:45pm Membership for Life Class 2 Handicap (1400m)
Ismail Toker made it an early double here with a good ride on Aventador to cause a bit of an upset. Much of Aventador’s prep has involved trying to restrain him and get him to settle early but from the wide gate they elected to ride forward and were rewarded with a tough effort and a strong win. He was challenged in the straight but found a kick and was able to hang on. He has always been a horse of promise who hasn’t seemed to win as often as he maybe should but this win just reinforced the talent is there. His improvement from his last run wasn’t unexpected by a few sharp punters either, shortening from $23 to start $14.
Just Run continued his run of placings with a good effort for 2nd after a wide run, which may have just took its toll the last bit after he looked like the winner at the 200m. He is currently frustrating for punters but giving his all for his owners and his time in the sun will come. Stella Etoile is in a similar boat – again she ran home in good time but could only manage 3rd. Her racing pattern is her major obstacle, usually leaving her with too much to do late, but she continues to race well. D’ampezzo was very disappointing running 2nd last after leading, with Brendon McCoull noting he did not appreciate being pressured in the lead.
Race 3 7:20pm Sue Rees Modelling & Deportment Academy Class 1 Handicap (1200m)
Gee Gees Jet was heavily backed to go one better than his first up win, firming from $7 to start $3.70 on fixed odds, and his backers had no cause for concern with a dominant all the way victory. Tayla Patterson-Doyle backed up her first winner last week with another one here and did a good job, letting him run where he was comfortable and not panicking when things didn’t go to her pre-race plan. The 1200m proved no issue at all and he ran strong enough overall time to say he can work through his grades.
Son Of Faith encountered a chequered passage rounding the turn but ran home well when clear for 2nd.. He looks to be a very promising horse and his breeding (out of former handy staying mare Star Jeune) suggests he should be able to run a trip. Udayan rattled home out wide to grab 3rd, recording the 3rd fastest last 200m for the meeting. She is also a horse with plenty to offer going forward.
Race 4 7:55pm Admiral Maiden Plate (1200m)
Hoodwinked was the one the punters wanted here, firming from $3.50 to start the $2.40 favourite, and they were on the money again when Anthony Darmanin rode her to a convincing all the way win. The main takeaway from this race was the incredibly slow time – Darmanin was able to dictate at a tempo which at the 400m mark was 5 lengths slower than the speed of the horse coming last at the 400m mark of the previous race run over the same distance. When he let her go around the corner she only had to run home in sub 24 seconds for her last 400m to win the race easily. She looks a handy filly on her previous runs but this race doesn’t tell us a whole lot about how good she is going forward.
Mel Loves Vodka raced a bit further back than she had been this prep and handled it well, running home nicely for 2nd in what was clearly the best finishing effort in the race. The first starter Berroco ran ok for 3rd for young apprentice Stephanie Thornton, just in front of an improved run by Gee Gees Talk Fest. Overall however, the lack of tempo and plain late sectionals displayed in this race means it is unlikely to be a great form race to refer back to.
Race 5 8:30pm Members Quality Handicap (1100m)
This is the major lead up race to the Newmarket Handicap in a fortnight and looked a hot race on paper, so what Geegees Doublejay was able to do to this field was extraordinary. While he has shown the ability to race behind the speed of late, he travelled so strongly here that Kelvin Sanderson was happy to sit outside the lead before exploding away on turning for a devastating 4 length win. He ran super time on a night which didn’t produce fast times, being only approximately a length slower than Admiral’s track record, and couldn’t have been more impressive leading into the state’s biggest sprint race.
Streetwise Savoire returned in excellent fashion, reeling off the fastest last 800m of the meeting to rattle home for 2nd but was no match for the winner. The extra 100m of the Newmarket will suit, as will the hot tempo the race generally produces. He might not be the best hope of winning the race in his family (being a half-brother to Hellova Street) but he’s sure to be humming home late again and who knows what can happen. Tennessee Drive had a bumping duel on the turn with Valiant Warrior as he tried to get away from the inside which flattened his finishing burst but still did a good job to run 3rd, proving he’s not just a Tapeta bully. While he was beaten 5 lengths, he probably should have finished closer and will be a worthy competitor in a fortnight.
Valiant Warrior was strongly fancied ($5.5 to $3.5) but even considering his bumping duel with Tennessee Drive he isn’t racing to the level he is capable of. He will need to improve sharply to be competitive in the big one. Grand Tycoon ($6 to $8.5) pulled up lame and his Newmarket hopes also appear to be in jeopardy.
Race 6 9:05pm Tas & Margot Support the Club Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m)
61kgs proved to be no issue at all for honest sprinter Concrete Johnny as he made his rivals pay for leaving him alone in front. Brendon McCoull was able to find the lead comfortably and then took full advantage of Johnny’s sustained speed to get his rivals off the bit and chasing from the 800m mark. Taking their sprint away from them proved a winning move and they weren’t able to bridge the gate in the straight. While he is a few lengths below the top liners, he is a more than handy galloper and his racing pattern always gives him his chance to figure in the money.
Van Diemens Fire was unwanted in betting, presumably due to the firm track, but ran home in some blistering times with the fastest last 600m and 400m splits of the meeting to get up for 2nd. He looks in for another good prep off that effort even on firm tracks but should he find a wet one he can excel. Just Call Me Fred ran well as favourite but was maybe a little flat 2nd up after a tough first up win. He also looks a horse who will figure prominently over the carnival. Dream Roller was a pleasing return first up to run 4th, while the mares Ryan’s Daughter and Frolicked ($8 to $3.90) were both disappointing and couldn’t finish off after being forced to chase hard mid race from back in the field.
Race 7 9:40pm Become a Member of the Club Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m)
This looked a very even field on paper and that’s how it eventuated, with only 2.6L separating the seven runners at the post. The 9yo Jakcorijim was well ridden just behind the leaders by Shiralee Maher and despite taking a bit of time to wind up he stuck at his task well to record his 13th career win. His days of taking on the top liners appear to be over but this win shows he still has something to offer, maybe in races on his home track at Devonport such as the Golden Mile and the Sheffield Cup.
Player One was resuming here and stormed home from last in scintillating fashion, recording the fastest last 200m split of the meeting. He proved himself a capable second-level stayer last prep, placing in the Summer Cup, and can be more than competitive at that level this time around if he can continue on from this effort. Second Dozen ran well at his first run back also, enjoying his customary role in front but just knocked up late when looking the winner at the 200m. Wonzzee was again disappointing and her future is under a cloud, while the strong favourite Hugo couldn’t get into the race from the back and will be better suited over more ground.
Race 8 10:15pm Membership Benefits Benchmark 72 Handicap (2100m)
Geegees Baritone stepped to 2100m for the first time this prep and did so impressively, winning well in what was a very strongly run affair. Leader Criollo didn’t get things her own way this time, with outsider Das Good keen to run along also, and they went at least 8 lengths quicker to the 800m mark than any other 2100m even run so far this night racing season. Coming from a fast run mile race a fortnight ago, Geegees Baritone had the grounding for a strong staying contest and where others dropped off in the straight he was still strong enough to the line to score. He looks a stayer of the future and given his good showings on Tapeta, a race like the Devonport Cup looks a nice race for him down the line.
Mulga Chief has been running quite reasonably despite his big starting prices and appreciated the strong tempo here to find the line and run 2nd. He tends to find them a bit quick at this distance but is suited in the lower class races at this distance and beyond with strong tempos. Perplexing made her run with Geegees Baritone and was there at the right time but couldn’t go with the winner and knocked up to run 3rd. She may have felt the 58.5kgs with the strong tempo but she isn’t quite racing to the level she looked like she might get to early in this prep.