Racing on Wednesday nights is at Launceston and we saw another competitive meeting with a number of promising horses winning for their connections. The forecast rain predominantly stayed away so the meeting was conducted on a Good 4 surface for the whole night. Barry Campbell took the training honours with a double involving the first and last winners on the night, while apprentice Kyle Maskiell rode a double of his own.
Race 1 6:07pm Magic Millions Race Night 17th February Maiden/Class 1 Plate (1600m)
Gwemrae is a handy mare who has been working towards a win since returning to the state and did so here in good style. In what was a messy race when the brakes went on mid-race, Ismail Toker was able to get into clear running down the side and travel into the race to be with the leaders on turning. From there her win was in little doubt as she let down well to win comfortably by 3 lengths. With a good 4th in the Thousand Guineas last season as a 3yo she showed she has above average ability and she can be competitive in higher grade at this distance range and possibly even further.
Zemiro ran on well from back in the field to claim 2nd and prove the mile wasn’t an issue for her, while She’s Rosie stuck on well after working forward early to hang on for 3rd. Becerikli was just behind them in 4th and prob should have run in the money after clipping heels at the 1000m when She’s Rosie crossed in front of him and then slowed up, causing him to over-race in the process. If he were able to hold his position outside the leader he may have given the winner something to catch. Minna Lass ran well after being caught wide throughout, while heavily backed favourite Aussie Alice ($6.50 to $2.25) was disappointing and never a winning chance before finding trouble late to finish 6th.
Race 2 6:45pm Launceston Cup Day Corporate Marquee 3yo Maiden Plate (1200m)
Jazzy’s Choice was ridden a bit more conservatively than she has been so far in her short career and responded magnificently with an impressive win. Well positioned by Georgie Catania from the wide gate, she was able to relax in 5th position in the run and when the time came to make her run approaching the home turn she showed an excellent turn of foot to run home in the fastest recorded last 400m and 200m sectionals of the meeting. Those figures alone suggest she can be competitive in higher grade despite the fair overall time now they have worked out how to ride her. Impressive win by a filly with a future.
Gee Gee Sun Valley was checked at the 1000m by Genijune who crossed to the lead but had no real excuses from there on. While she was comfortably beaten by the winner she did beat the rest of the field easily and that augurs well for her at least while she is in maiden grade. Frost ran a reasonable race for 3rd on debut, while Saint’s Quest did a pretty good job to run home for 4th from back in the field and did register top 5 last 400m and 200m splits. Full Of Promises made a mid-race move down the side to join the leaders on turning but that effort told and she knocked up over the last 200m to run a well beaten 5th. Her run was better than it reads on paper.
Race 3 7:20pm Oaks Day 21st February Maiden Plate (1200m)
Harvey Bay was well backed ($3.80 to $2.50) and did a good job to win here on debut at 1200m. Cleverly handled by Siggy Carr, he led away from the fence and despite running along early he still had enough in hand late to win convincingly. The overall time was only fair considering the early tempo but he does look a horse with a bit of scope to him and has a bit of a future on that effort.
Miss Choosey ran an improved race up on the speed to just last for 2nd, but it was another newcomer Storm Gust who caught the eye in 3rd. Running home in top 12 sectionals from the 800, this son of Ladoni finished clearly better than any other runner in the race and looks to be a horse of good potential over a bit of ground. Hard to make a case for the rest, although Mel Loves Vodka again ran honestly after being forced to race wide throughout.
Race 4 7:57pm Launceston Cup Eve & Calcutta Class 4 Handicap (1200m)
Bideford is a horse with plenty of class about him and showed it here with a dominant all the way victory. Despite being a bit slow to begin, Kyle Maskiell made his mind up pretty quickly to take control of what was a muddling tempo early and he rode a well-rated race in front. He didn’t allow any of the chasers to travel behind him and used his horse’s sustained speed to lead them a merry dance. Running good overall time, Bideford looks a horse capable of featuring in better races over the carnival and at least 1400m won’t be an issue for him.
Calavera was coming back from 1400m but was heavily backed ($6 to $3.20) and ran home very well despite being no match for the winner. He finished just in front of Dream Roller, who is racing very well for a horse capable at much longer distances. Both ran home in top 4 splits across the board, which shows how well the winner was ridden as they were effectively given no chance of running him down. Both are racing well and can go on. Wonzzee was ridden a bit further back but was again disappointing compared with what we know she can do, while Incumsdacash and Powercharged both ran home well with an eye to the future.
Race 5 8:37pm Betfair Exchange Launceston Cup in February Maiden Plate (1400m)
Shutterfly broke through with a deserved win here after three decent runs in maiden grade leading into this. Well ridden by David Pires, she tracked a course closer to the rail but was able to push out and find a split in the straight and prove too strong in the run home. The overall time was poor and she didn’t run home in any time so she will likely need to improve in Class 1 company but she is still only lightly raced and there looks to be something to work with.
Ruby Heart ran her usual honest race but just found the winner too good, while Gee Gees Tell All’s effort was good to sit 3 and 4 wide throughout but keep sticking it out to the line. It wasn’t just the horse doing it tough, with Daniel Ganderton unable to weigh in post race due to illness. Takhi made good ground to run 4th but all in all this looks a plain race and not a great form reference moving forward.
Race 6 9:20pm Launceston Cup Millinery Parade Class 1 Handicap (1400m)
One Shot Off showed much better speed last time when winning her maiden at 1400m and showed it was no fluke here with another all the way win. Well rated in front by Shiralee Maher, she ran along in front and did enough to be just in front at the post. Bideford had showed the ground on the fence was still ok and this mare no doubt appreciates racing against the rail, considering the amount she has hung in at her initial runs before leading on the fence to win her past two. There’s no reason she can’t continue to climb both the distances and the grades.
Cameo Kiss charged home from well back in the field with a top 5 last 200m sectional.and only just missed. She continues to prove herself as a mare with some talent and looks ready to try a mile next time. Alilad ran another consistent race for 3rd, just ahead of Princess Atilla who was much improved in 4th. Must Be Love and Squire were both disappointing on face value but were given little hope from a long way back in the field. Both ran home in good sectionals but that is what they tend to do and they don’t represent great betting candidates until they can show a bit more early speed.
Race 7 10:00pm Launceston Cup Fashions for Fillies Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m)
Eternal Speed made it two wins in a row here with a very good performance. Given a 5 week break between runs by Nigel Schuuring, he still had the fitness to sit 3 wide without cover and beat a solid field in very good time. He ran top 10 sectionals from the 800m home and was one of the wins of the night by any measure. He still has a couple of wins this grade before the handicapper gets him so the immediate future looks bright.
Kool Kash was his usual honest self racing on the fast early tempo and he toughed it out to the line well. He’s not far away from a win and this does look his best distance. Just Call Me Fred couldn’t go with the first two over the last 400m and may be better suited at the shorter trips. The beaten brigade looked a bit plain behind them but many of them ran home better than it looked – they just weren’t able to get near a couple of good on-pacers who weren’t stopping at the finish.
Race 8 10:30pm Launceston Cup Golf Day Benchmark 72 Handicap (2100m)
Aventador proved himself a stayer with a future here with a strong effort in a decent field. He took good benefit from his first try at this trip last time and was able to sit just behind a strong tempo and still maintain a strong run to the line to win impressively. Overall time was good and you can expect there is still improvement to come being, being so new at the staying caper.
Milson ran his usual honest race and went pretty well himself, beating the rest of the field by a considerable margin. He continues to run in the money for connections and is always going to shape as a chance in these type of events. Valdez was a very firm favourite ($3.80 to $3) and was travelling into the race nicely before being checked at the 400m and losing momentum, which put an end to his chances. He finished off his race alright and will be better for the run. Geegees Baritone was disappointing and Siggy Carr could offer no explanation other than the track being shifty in places and he may not have handled it.