SOME of Australia’s big name thoroughbred trainers will converge on Tattersall’s Park in Hobart on Sunday with the hope of taking home some serious prizemoney that is on offer on three of the feature races on the eight-event card.
Peter Moody leads the charge with his in-form mare Storm Burst entered for the $150,000 Group 3 Bow Mistress Trophy over 1200 metres while his three-year-old colt Strive To Excel is aiming to emerge triumphant in the $100,000 Listed Tasmanian Derby over 2200 metres.
Mick Price, Anthony Freedman and David Hayes also have Bow Mistress aspirants along with John McArdle, Richard Jolly, Robbie Laing and David Brideoake.
Price will bring Tariana for the Bow Mistress and many pundits are already declaring her “over the line”.
However there is plenty of depth in the list of nominations and if every horse accepts then it promises to be the best race of the season.
Anthony Freedman is likely to accept with Follonica and South Australian trainer Richard Jolly has nominated Golden Penny.
While the interstate contingent will make their presence felt they will have to bring their A games if they are to have the better of Tasmania’s star trio Rebel Bride, Bel Price and Los Skybo.
Rose Of Scotland was one of Tasmania’s star two-year-olds and she has gone on to become very competitive in open class mares races in NSW and Queensland.
Rose Of Scotland has been back in Tasmania in the care of her former Tasmanian trainer Charlie Goggin and Luella Meaburn for the past six weeks in preparation for the Bow Mistress and Vamos Stakes.
The Schweppes Tasmanian Derby also boasts a host of interstate invaders with half of the 10 three-year-olds nominated hailing from Victoria.
Peter Moody has nominated Strive To Excel while Anthony Freedman will pin his hopes on Hot Testa.
Robert Smerdon entered Drunken Poet, Gingerboy will represent the Darren Weir stable and Mark Young has nominated End Zone.
Local star Kenjorwood is the form horse and should be emerge triumphant his Spreyton-based trainer Darren Kenny could progress the three-year-old to the AAMI Hobart Cup the following week.