Hobart turned the weather on for Friday’s twilight Tasmanian Derby and Bow Mistress Trophy program and the racing didn’t disappoint with 8 excellent races of quality and competition. The track was upgraded from a Soft 5 to a Good 3 through the day and raced tremendously well, with winners coming from first, last and everywhere in between, and the last winner winning on the inside rail. It made for very enjoyable racing and whetted the appetite for a bumper Hobart Cup meeting on Monday. Adam Trinder took the training honours with a double including the Tasmanian Derby, while Brendon McCoull continued his hot recent form with a double including the Carbine Club 3yo Plate.
Race 1 2:30pm Claude Neon Maiden (1200m)
Quirribilly Lodge was a firm favourite in the first and got favourite backers off to a great start with an impressive last-to-first victory. The lightly raced 5yo is from an impressive staying family including half-brothers North Lodge and Tshahitsi so you may expect a firm ground sprinting victory is just the start of things. The overall time was only fair and realistically gave him his chance to win but there’s no doubt he has a future.
Gee Gees Cool Gal didn’t have much luck from the wide gate so her effort was again pretty good to finish close up, while Static React showed more early speed than her first up run and was only grabbed late. She’s working towards a win sooner rather than later. Banca Boy had support ($8.50 to $7) and was a promising debut effort, covering ground and running about in the straight but wasn’t far away at the finish. Etown has had plenty of chances but ran home reasonably well while second-favourite Lotza Luck led and was rather disappointing.
Race 2 3:05pm R M Worbey Constructions Maiden (1400m)
Derek The Viking came back from a disappointing run over a mile to box seat here and win well. In a race run at a strong tempo he was ridden perfectly by Kyle Maskiell and finished off in the fastest last 400m of the race to score. Overall time was quick, especially for this class, so while it didn’t look a strong maiden on paper there should be some fit horses coming out of it.
Matiano was well supported ($4.50 to $3.60) after a nice first up run and showed more early speed to race near the lead this time. His effort was good again and a win can’t be too far away. Victory Medal raced wide outside the speed and his performance to run 3rd was outstanding. He can mix his form but the ability is there. Hell Baby started a narrow favourite and ran on as she always does but she was never really in contention and is crying out for the mile.
Race 3 3:44pm Tasmanian Hospitality Association BM62 Handicap (2400m)
Shlingas brought good form and stout breeding to this rare 2400m event and with the M.S. Trinder polish he proved too strong in the final stages. He was ridden beautifully by Kim Moore who timed her run to perfection in a race where runners were well strung out and the backmarkers appeared to miss the boat. Obviously races at this longer trip are few and far between in this state but with his low rating expect him to remain very competitive in the lower grade staying events in the near future.
Gwemrae is a promising staying mare who didn’t appear to settle as well as she ideally may have and that may have told late. Toker elected to let her stride down the back rather than fight her but she just didn’t finish off the last bit. She can continue to race well through the restricted staying events. Electric Crimson was very strong racing right on the fast pace and looks cherry ripe next time, while Big Pegg was the best of the backmarkers and ran home strongly as she always does.
Race 4 4:24pm Navy Class 1 Handicap (1200m)
Red Sun Rising resumed here in a race which appeared stacked with pressure but Victorian rider Steven Arnold was somehow able to dictate in the lead and pinch victory. He got through to an 1880m placing last prep but had the sprint in the legs while fresh to run a top-20 last 400m and hold the challengers at bay. He looks to have come on from last prep and with his racing pattern he can be competitive as he goes up in grade over slightly longer trips.
Seajamm was ridden perfectly by Boris Thornton but after following the leader through on turning she was unable to run him down. She clearly ran well and beat the others clearly but maybe wasn’t screwed down enough fresh to get the job done. Step The Pedal flashed home again in 3rd, running the 4th fastest last 200m of the meeting, but it is a habit that will be wearing thin on punters. She’s racing very well but looks to need things to go her way to crack the major prize. Slinky Malinky also ran home well at her first start in the state and looks to have a future down here. Of the rest, Gloray was well-backed ($8 to $5.50) but had no early speed at all and was beaten comfortably despite running home with the 7th best last 400m of the day.
Race 5 5:04pm Carbine Club 3yo Plate (1100m)
Gee Gee Red Prince was sensationally backed here ($3.10 to $2.25) and won in devastating style that gave backers little cause for concern. Despite the fast tempo he was able to cruise to the lead from his wide gate by the turn out of the back straight and dashed away on straightening to put the race beyond doubt. He was getting tired late but he was more than entitled to and his overall time was very strong. He has genuine claims to the title of the best 3yo sprinter in the state and should again be very hard to beat in the 3yo Classic on Launceston Cup day.
Naadam was super against the older horses last time behind Silver Bolt and he again ran excellently here, showing an ability to race behind the speed with his fast-finishing 2nd. He had the right run behind the speed but his last 800m was the 2nd best of the day and would have won in another couple of strides. He has improved considerably over the last few months and looks to have a great future. Jazzy’s Choice ran home nicely into 3rd after being sent out at big odds and is another who is continuing to improve with race experience. Gee Gees Jet was very firm in betting and did wasn’t bad running 4th sitting on the fast speed but was no match for his stablemate, while interstate raider Bob Of The Head was in the firing line but knocked right up in the straight and was well beaten.
Race 6 5:44pm Schweppes Tasmanian Derby (2200m)
Jerilderie Letter capped off an incredible 3yo campaign with the gutsiest of wins in the state’s premier 3yo staying event. The race was run at a much stronger tempo than the Hobart Guineas and Jerilderie Letter was a sitting shot at the 200m mark but he fought on tenaciously to record a stirring victory. He has now won his past 4 starts and 6 of his 7 lifetime starts and heads to the paddock as clearly Tasmania’s 3yo of the year and an outstanding prospect for next season.
Howard Be Thy Name enjoyed a nice run trailing the favourite and eventual winner but when he challenged at the business end he wasn’t able to run him down. His run was very good and the first two were clearly above the rest of the field. Al Shameel ran along much quicker in front than in the Hobart Guineas to try and turn this into a true staying test but he found the others far too good and only battled home in 3rd, ahead of the local Siorca who raced closer to the speed in a gamble worth taking but it didn’t pay off.
Race 7 6:23pm Magic Millions Bow Mistress Trophy (1200m)
Nautical went for a real bath in betting, drifting from her $6 opening price to start $14, but no one told her, reeling off a sensational finish to run down the favourite I Love It right on the line. Brad Rawiller gave her a beautiful trail racing midfield and was able to follow the favourite through around the bend to get clear running and the chance to rattle home to score the Group 3 prize. She ran top 4 splits from the 800m mark home, punctuated by a 22.54 last 400m and an 11.23 last 200m. Overall time was very strong despite just an average tempo so this win was richly deserved.
I Love It was favourite all the way through betting after her devastating win last year and at the 200m it looked like we were going to see the same again, but maybe the extra bit of work she had to do early after a slightly tardy start caught up with her at the finish. She was ridden perfectly by Stephen Baster but after looking the winner in the straight she got nailed right on the line. Erin’s Element looked the best local hope and she didn’t let herself down, running the fastest last 400m of the meeting to grab 3rd and that all-important black type ahead of Mossbeat, who was excellent after racing wide with cover and finishing off in 11.15 for her last 200m – the best of the day. The top 4 were clearly superior to the rest, with Sh’bourne Spirit and Frolicked the next best of the locals after having comfortable runs on speed, while Our Harmony was forced to cover ground throughout and never looked likely to reward her backers ($5 to $3.40).
Race 8 7:00pm Tasmanian Race Horse Owners Assoc Class 4 Handicap (1100m)
Bella Venus went quickly early to find the lead from her wide barrier and thanks to a well-rated ride from Bulent Muhcu she was able to go all the way to win by a narrow margin. Rather than try and stack them up when he found the front, Muhcu was happy to run along on the race-fit mare and it was a strong display of speed to lead throughout. The overall time was good and it was a deserved win for a horse who had taken a number of runs to regain her 3yo form but clearly has done so now.
Issawi was heavily backed for his first-up run ($8.50 to $4) and the plunge went agonisingly close to being a successful one. He sat outside the leader and stalked her every step of the way but just failed to run her down. Spihro did a good job to finish 3rd after covering ground in the run, while Coriace was very good running home into 4th from back in the field in a leader-dominated affair. Partenza was a firm second favourite but again failed on the Hobart track, while Grey Gown was never in the race but did record the fastest last 800m sectional of the day.