Tasracing

Devonport hosted eight-races on Sunday with the day highlighted early by David Pires bringing up his first winner back in the saddle following injury. Tessie returned to form with an all-the-way victory and Rough Road made light work of a strong class 3. David Pires and Ismail Toker both rode doubles, while from a training perspective John Blacker and Team Wells shared the spoils with two winners each.

Race 1 – 13:15 Goodstone Group Maiden (900 metres)

1. #12 Heavenly Light $2.30F
2. #3 Loki Patera $26.00
3. #13 Odaline $10.00
4. #11 Stellartie $3.60

Heavenly Light had terrific form for a race of this nature and did what many expected she would in the first of the day. David Pires camped behind Loki Patera who crossed early and the race never looked in much doubt as Pires brought up his first winner back from injury. The 3YO has normally been a leader but having something to chase may better for her adaptability going forward.

David Pires guides Heavenly Light to victory in a 900-metre maiden in Devonport.

Loki Patera showed the same gate speed we’d seen at his one prior start, jumping to the lead and holding on for second. At least early in his career the shorter the race the better. Odaline was first-up in the state and held third throughout in a race where unsurprisingly nothing really got into the race from the back. Stellartie didn’t run up to the market but will be better suited over further as will most from the race.

To Follow: 900m maidens are always hard to line-up. Heavenly Light is a rung below the good 3YO’s but should still have a productive season.

Race 2 – 13:50 Thai Imeprial Latrobe Maiden (1350 metres)

1. #8 Dixie’s Boy $2.30F
2. #12 Lord Wimborne $81.00
3. #7 Dancing Glory $31.00
4. #10 Gee Gee Manpower $5.50

Dixie’s Boy was a well-found winner firming from $3.30 into $2.30 in the second of the day bringing up a race to race double for David Pires. Replay watchers identified an error with the input of results from his recent trial that saw him finish a lot closer to the winner than the 12 lengths listed. By this stage the two that had finished in front of him in that trial had since won, though he needed the run of the race and typically strong riding from Pires to get the job done. The SP’s of those around him suggest this may not be the strongest maiden but he has plenty of scope to improve and the best part of his race looked to be the finish.

Dixie Boy wins the second race in Devonport giving David Pires a double.

Lord Wimborne had shown very little of late and was entitled to be a big price but looked a real danger to the favourite after running strongly from midfield. His last 400m was the fastest of the race and connections will be hoping this type of performance becomes the norm. Dancing Glory had the blinkers on and improved racing on-speed sticking on for third ahead of Gee Gee Manpower who raced without cover throughout and did well to run into the money considering. It’s La Premiere was an easing second favourite and returned post-race with blood from both nostrils after finishing near the tail of the field.

To Follow: Dixie’s Boy looks the horse with most upside in a maiden of questionable depth.

Race 3 – 14:24 Lending 4 u Benchmark 66 Handicap (1350 metres)

1. #9 Tessie $9.50
2. #4 Thineisthekingdom $4.00
3. #1 Aspirate $2.60F
4. #2 Benny Goes Berzerk $6.00

Craig Newitt went straight to the front on Tessie and gave nothing else a look in to record a soft victory. She was a slight drifter as punters had somewhat given up on her after some average runs when a much shorter price, but the change of tactics did the trick. The remaining placegetters all settled well back and the overall time was only around 4.5 lengths quicker than the win of Dixie’s Boy, so credit goes to the winning ride from the state’s leading jockey.

Tessie wins race three in Devonport Sunday.

Thineisthekingdom was the significant mover shortening from $6.50 into $4.00 and was the next of the rest. Aspirate’s last 400m was a couple of lengths quicker than anything else on the day but after settling last with 61kg she was left with too much to do. Benny Goes Berzerk was solid in fourth while Gone Girl’s last 400m was second only to Aspirate on the program to hint that she might be able to get back to something like her best.

To Follow: No reason to jump off Aspirate who had little chance to win settling last in a race controlled by the leader.

Race 4 – 15:00 RJ Print & Signs Class 3 Handicap (1150 metres)

1. #4 Rough Road $5.00
2. #3 Harriman $4.40
3. #2 Lesnar $6.00
4. #1 Newhart $2.80F

Rough Road was perhaps a forgotten horse with the spruik around Newhart embarking on a Devonport Cup path, but he gave a reminder of his quality with an easy victory in a good-looking class 3. After leading to win on debut he has been ridden with a sit in two subsequent victories and he looks a horse with plenty of potential, particularly with Sunday’s win showing the synthetic holds no fears.

Rough Road (Bulent Muhcu) wins race 4 in Devonport.

Harriman raced outside the lead and that horse Fitzwilliam didn’t take him very far into the race upon straightening. In this class he may be better at 1350m and upwards. Lesnar sat three-wide without cover so his effort to run third had merit despite a moderate tempo. Newhart was kept in a pocket for much of the home straight so had some excuses. This may have been at least a minor setback though if the Cup in early January is still the target.

To Follow: This looked a race of good depth and post-race I think it remains that way. Rough Road appears an open-class galloper in the making.

Race 5 – 15:35 Great Northern Benchmark 60 Handicap (1009 metres)

1. #3 Gee Gee Queen Bee $5.00
2. #8 Red Gucci $19.00
3. #4 Mystical Warrior $1.65F
4. #1 Prince of Virtue $11.00

Gee Gee Queen Bee reinvented herself as a horse ridden with a sit to power away for a soft win in the first leg of the quaddie. Ridden almost exclusively for speed as a leader throughout her career, Ismail Toker settled forward but was content to leave a few in front of him and with something to chase Gee Gee Queen Bee had plenty in hand over the concluding stages. The mare was $6 into $5 with only two horses wanted in betting and the ability for her to be ridden in this fashion will open plenty more avenues going forward.

Gee Gee Queen Bee wins a benchmark 60 in Devonport.

Red Gucci interestingly had the fastest last 200m for the entire meeting but was found to be lame post-race and Cameron Thompon advised stewards she will be retired. Mystical Warrior firmed considerably to start well in the red but after being fractious before the race she lacked dash in the home straight. Having chosen to bypass the 3YO Cup, she may head back to class 1 company to try and notch the second win that many thought she would get here. Prince of Virtue finished the race off well carrying 62.5kg and looks ready for something where he can get some weight relief.

To Follow: Prince of Virtue was a nice return with the big weight.

Race 6 – 16:12 Go Racing Tasmania Benchmark 66 Handicap (1880 metres)

1. #6 GeeGees First Lady $7.50
2. #4 Generalmaintenance $3.40
3. #7 Pinkeyes Pride $13.00
4. #2 Exclusively Ours $1.75F

In a race of change Peter Lui took off before the home turn on GeeGees First Lady and hung on for the 4YO mares third career win. Lui caught the leader napping as they exited the back straight, racing to a clear lead and getting the rest chasing before they straightened for the judge. The overall time was around eight lengths quicker than the following 1880m race and carrying the minimum to win here she will easily remain eligible for this type of race going forward.

Gee Gees First Lady wins race six in Devonport Sunday.

Generalmaintenance ground away and eventually worse down the leader Pinkeyes Pride to finish third. The well supported Exclusively Ours never really travelled like the winner and looks a much better horse on the grass.

To Follow: Provided Glenn Stevenson can find something suitable back in Launceston, it may pay to forgive the run of Exclusively Ours.

Race 7 – 16:47 Ladbrokes Maiden/Class 1 (1880 metres)

1. #6 Rodessa $10.00
2. #2 Captain Morgan $7.00
3. #7 Sizzkye $15.00
4. #1 Surging Storm $3.10F

Rodessa rounded the field up from the back to notch her second win at start 27. The 5YO mare has always been a hard one to catch but she had things run to suit here, sweeping down the outside after the field packed up on the home turn. Ismail Toker was forced wide on the track by Sizzkye who ducked out badly, but the eventual second horse Captain Morgan suffered worse interference, leaving Rodessa to roll to a length victory. Up to 2100m in lower benchmark races, she should continue to be competitive after a pair of good runs to open the campaign.

Captain Morgan tracked into the race nicely and looked set to fight out the finish with Rodessa before Sizzkye shifting out abruptly forced Bulent Muhcu back to the inside and put an end to his winning chances. He was $8.00 into $7.00 and wasn’t a pretty watch for those involved over the final 200m. Sizzkye made an early move with Peter Lui aboard in a similar way to his victory in the previous. After being second across the line it was no surprise to see the horse relegated to third on protest. Surging Storm was plain in fourth, seemingly getting every chance as favourite while Gee Gees Lovebeer was another well in the market but faded badly late to finish nearly 10 lengths from the winner.

To Follow: Captain Morgan was unlucky and will be a winning chance again in this grade next start.

Race 8 – 17:22 Birdcage Tavern & Function Centre Benchmark 74 Handicap (1650 metres)

1. #3 Gee Gee Wynett $4.80
2. #1 Braccenby $3.00
3. #2 Cunning Fox $1.95F
4. #5 Rougeau $7.50

Gee Gee Wynett relished having a senior rider back aboard with strong riding from Daniel Ganderton the difference in the home straight. Ganderton went to the front as expected and controlled the race from there, albeit with a mid-race slow down and subsequent contact resulting in a protest to decide the result. The protest was dismissed and Gee Gee Wynett atoned for throwing her previous race away when hanging out badly for apprentice Peter Lui. Clearly, she’s a horse with a few tricks but has built an impressive record with six wins and nine minor placings from 20 career starts.

Scarlet So protested aboard Braccenby alleging interference at the 700m when So went looking for an inside run as Gee Gee Wynett left the rail. Despite losing a length at the time, stewards may have deemed the horse still had ample time to get past the winner in the home straight. Cunning Fox was the one punters singled out ($2.70 into $1.95) and had the fastest last 600m of the race to get into the finish, beaten less than half a length. Rougeau was the outsider of the field but finished only 1.9 lengths from the winner.

To Follow: Cunning Fox remains on track for the Longford Cup despite being beaten here.

Fastest 10 last 200m Stridemaster times

Fastest 10 last 400m Stridemaster times

Fastest 10 last 600m Stridemaster times