A quality 7 race card took place in Hobart on Monday on a Slow 5 track with the rail back in the True position. Gee Gee Double Dee was a dominant winner of the first 2yo race of the season, the Debutante Plate, while multiple premiership winning rider Brendon McCoull reminded everybody he still has what it takes with a treble. Doug Brazendale and Gary White shared the training honours with a double each.
Race 1 1:58pm Schweppes Maiden Plate (1000m)
Hello Gertie has been racing well for Doug Brazendale, making up good ground from back in the field, so her backers would have been giggling when they saw her up outside the leader despite coming back to the 1000m trip. There were a few of them too, firming in from $23 to start $13 at the jump. The overall time measured up reasonably well against the hot C2 later in the day, thanks in part to the faster tempo early. The fact Hello Gertie was able to sit on this fast tempo yet was still strong on the line augers well for her future and the time connections have taken with her looks worthwhile as they have a handy mare on their hands.
Off The Grid had blinkers first time and was much improved, running second after enjoying a good run behind the speed. Race favourite Because was a tad slow early and settled further back than she usually does, before running home fairly when clear in the straight. Mel Loves Vodka made some ground to run 4th and continues to race honestly. Only Kiss and La Niella proved disappointing in the run home after racing near the lead – while the tempo was strong the winner was right with them in the run so they had no genuine excuses.
Race 2 2:33pm Jet Couriers Maiden Plate (1400m)
One Shot Off had shown glimpses of ability at her first two runs but it was the step up to 1400m and a positive ride by Shiralee Maher that brought out the best of her with a gutsy win here. She continued to push the tempo throughout from outside the leader but when it appeared she would get run over late she still had a kick and was able to hold off the challenge and win narrowly. The overall time was pretty good for a race of this nature and if this mare can continue to sort out her manners she can be a pretty handy type, especially if she stays as trainer Doug Brazendale predicts.
Hirvonen continues to knock on the door and ran home well again for a close 2nd. Much better when the tempo is on up front but he is proving costly for punters. Pretoria Miss got back further than usual and made good ground for 3rd, but looks like she now wants a rise in trip next time. Island Tiger looks an improving type with a decent effort running into 4th, but there isn’t a lot to recommend of the beaten brigade.
Race 3 3:08pm Treasury Wine Estates Debutante 2yo Plate (900m)
Gee Gees Double Dee had tongues wagging following the first 2yo race of the year in which she showed a high cruising speed to lead and decimate her rivals by a widening 7 1/4L. She ran a blistering 10.23 seconds from the 800m to the 600m to drive through to lead after being a bit slow to begin and soon had race favourite Immortal Charm off the bit and chasing before the corner. She is an excitement machine and looks to be a star in the making.
Immortal Charm was heavily backed but had no answer to the sustained speed of the winner. She got out of her comfort zone before the corner and the effort told late as she knocked up over the last 200m. She did beat the rest comfortably so it is far from the end of the world but she’ll have her work cut out beating the winner in the near future. Gee Gee Pureblonde ran well enough to nose out a line of them for 3rd. Tom Archie ran quite a good race in 5th – he was checked at the start, picked up a lot of ground mid-race and understandably knocked up late – and he looks a horse with ability. Sameron also looks one to follow. He needs to improve his manners as he laid in and ran into trouble at the 200m but when he got clear late he was strong through the line and has a bit of a future.
Race 4 3:45pm Tasracingclub.com.au Maiden/Class 1 Plate (1600m)
Shiralee had all the right form for a race of this class and rewarded the punters who backed him into odds on favouritism with a comfortable win. It was a beautifully timed ride by Brendon McCoull, keeping his horse relaxed near the rear of the field while the on pacers ran along up front, tracking up Cheers Chappy on turning and when he made his run down the middle in the straight he never really looked like losing. This was a nice confidence booster for Shiralee and he looks on track to go to at least the minor cups in the upcoming carnival.
Big Pegg stepped up from a maiden win and ran on very well for 2nd at his first attempt at the mile, albeit being suited by the good speed up front. She looks to have a bit of a future as she continues to improve as she steps up in trip. Crib Point ran home in her usual honest fashion for 3rd, just ahead of Cheers Chappy. Shiralee is clearly the horse of most promise coming out of this event with not much between many of those who finished behind.
Race 5 4:25pm Become A TRC Member Class 2 Handicap (1000m)
Tshahitsi had shown himself to be a horse with a future at his first few starts but his impressive win first up in this hot Class 2 stamped him as a serious horse. Bred to be a stayer with two 1400m wins under his belt in a short career, he carried top weight over an unsuitable 1000m trip here but was far too strong for a field of promising speedsters. Considering he is by Clangalang and his half-brother North Lodge was a metro winner over 3000m, the sky’s the limit for this 4yo gelding if he can take this turn of foot to the longer distances. An exciting horse in the making.
Gee Gees Jet ran well again for 2nd in what was a nice patient ride from Tayla Patterson-Doyle, and his ability to relax behind a fast speed adds another string to his bow which will be very useful as he goes up the grades. These two got right away on Secrets She Has who ran on ok for 3rd, ahead of Teriki, who couldn’t go on after striking the front just after straightening. No real excuses for the beaten brigade and while the first five horses home are all nice horses, the winner could be at another level.
Race 6 5:05pm Book Now for Hobart Cup Luncheon Benchmark 82 Handicap (1600m)
Player One was well fancied here after a very good run fresh in Launceston and showed he has gone to a new level this prep with a dominant victory. Allowed to relax at the tail of the field by Anthony Darmanin, he rounded them up quickly in the straight down the middle of the track to score by nearly 4 lengths in soft fashion. Last season he stepped up into higher grades, placing 3rd in the Summer Cup and winning twice in BM72 grade, but it looks like he has improved again now as a 6yo. The track was starting to suit those down the middle so it is possible he was a little flattered being the one with the right run out wide, but he’s going to strike this pattern often at Hobart and he can play a part in the upcoming carnival.
Skip To The Moon was a much improved effort to run 2nd, but was also suited making her run from off the speed and wider in the straight. She’s ticking over well when she gets the right run and can continue to feature when she finds suitable races. Perplexing ran home fairly for 3rd but isn’t the same horse we saw earlier in her prep and may be looking for a short break. Second Dozen was well beaten but was best of the on pacers in a race where they were all a bit plain staying down on the inside and he is just about ready if he can find a suitably run race.
Race 7 5:45pm Elwick Functions & Events Class 1 Handicap (1100m)
Naadam was again well backed in this event, firming from $9 into $5, and rewarded the faithful with a tough on speed win. It was a canny ride by Brendon McCoull, who was happy to ride a line away from the fence to race in better ground, and it was a race-winning move with the race again dominated by those out in the middle of the track. Considering he led and was the only on pacer in the finish his win was full of merit and highlighted his ability when allowed to race in his comfort zone on the speed.
Prominent Star was an excellent run fresh to storm home into 2nd albeit out in the better ground, running home in the 4th fastest late sectionals of the day. He looks to be in for a good preparation on that effort. Ariconte has plenty to learn and needs to sort out his manners, but he ran on strongly through the middle for a close up 3rd despite finding a bit of trouble in the straight. He looks to be a horse with good ability and has a future as he learns what the caper is all about. Newcomer to the state Boart was probably a better run that it looks on paper, sticking at his task well back nearer the inside for a close up 5th, while favourite My Paige Three found herself in an awkward spot early and did some work to get clear in the straight but couldn’t finish the race off.