Tasracing

Launceston hosted a huge nine-race card on Wednesday night, headlined by I’m Wesley winning the Newmarket Handicap for a third straight year. Still A Star took out the second feature of the night, the 3YO Cup, and the prospect of similar fields meeting again in both the Conquering Stakes and 3YO Trophy will be eagerly anticipated. Riding honours went to Anthony Darmanin with a double and Bill Ryan had two winners from a training perspective.

Race 1 -17:34 Access Hardware Maiden (1400 metres)

1. 11. Luvahussy $11.00
2. 7. Teejay Frankie $6.00
3. 1. Le Monde De Lucas $15.00
4. 3. Sir Da Vinci $2.15F

5YO mare Luvahussy caused an upset in the first of the night, drifting from $8.00 out to $11.00 before leading all the way to win. In a repeat of the tactics adopted the previous start, Anthony Darmanin booted to the front from an inside draw and gave the chasing pack the slip on the home turn. Unlike the start prior, the mare had plenty in hand in the run to the line to win by a length. The overall time was around 2.5 lengths quicker than the win of the following race which bodes well for Luvahussy stepping up in grade.

Luvahussy wins the first of the night in Launceston

The heavily backed Sir Da Vinci raced three-wide without cover on the speed so it was no great surprise to see him grind away in the straight despite his SP. Teejay Frankie also raced three-wide but had the back of Sir Da Vinci so at least appeared to have some cover. The 3YO gelding was $7.50 into $6.00 late and looks ready to win soon. Le Monde De Lucas raced behind the speed with cover, on a night where that was favourable due to a strong breeze blowing across the track. Pira Noona again settled further back than she has in previous campaigns but worked home with the fastest last 600m of the race.

To Follow: Teejay Frankie has run well at both his career starts.

Race 2 – 18:05 Book Your Christmas Function Class 1 Handicap (1400 metres)

1. 1. Scarface Romeo $3.80
2. 6. GeeGees Rock Opera $12.00
3. 5. Gee Gees Darl $2.30F
4. 8. Kombacy $10.00 & 10. Pymble $61.00

Scarface Romeo was $6.00 into $3.80 at his first Tasmanian appearance and that market move was on the money thanks to a rail hugging ride from Troy Baker. Settling midfield off only a fair tempo, Baker was forced to ride for luck, but the gaps came at the right time and the 5YO gelding had just enough in store to hold off the closers wider on the track. Only half a length separated the first five across the line, and this was the slowest of the three 1400m races, but you would expect Scarface Romeo may take some improvement being first-up here.

Scarface Romeo wins on Tasmanian debut in Launceston.

GeeGees Rock Opera made a dive from off the speed to put herself in the finish. It was a tough night to run on from back and wide, so her performance had plenty of merit. Gee Gees Darl had every chance racing behind the lead and a gap appeared at the top of the straight, but she couldn’t put the race away. Kombacy had the fastest last 400m of the race running home very hard from last, to dead-heat for fourth with Pymple who was the leader in-running.

To Follow: Kombacy is giving herself plenty to do settling well back but may be able to land closer if they ever draw a gate.

Race 3 – 18:40 Adam Page Rock N Roll 6^th December Maiden (1200 metres)

1. 8. Audrey $3.50
2. 9. Endured $26.00
3. 1. Boss Cat $41.00
4. 5. Up Wind $2.00F

Audrey landed in prime position third on the fence and landed some good bets, halving in price from $7.00 to $3.50. Visiting jockey Stan Tsaikos brought up a rare Tasmanian winner after giving the 3YO filly the ideal run trailing the leader. It looked like she might win by a reasonable margin, but the second horse fought strongly and there was little in it on the line. The overall time was the slowest of the five 1200m races and around 13 lengths slower than the 3YO Cup, so Audrey will have some work to do if she looks to return and tackle her own age group.

Audrey (Stan Tsaikos) defeats first starter Endured in race three.

Endured sat second on debut and ran much better than the market suggested she would after drifting from $7 out to $26. It was a strange betting race with Up Wind hammered from $4.40 into $2.00 and the early favourite Huon Chief was $2.15 out to $5.50 as a result. Up Wind ran fourth but never looked the winner after settling back, while Huon Chief faded badly after leading the race. Given the quinella sat second and third in-running, connections will be scratching their heads with the run of the leader. Boss Cat ran third in a decent return for further and Keiserinne missed the start for the second time in a week and is going well enough if that changes.

To Follow: Hard not to notice the move for Up Wind and he may be better suited at 1400m.

Race 4 – 19:15 Unique Doors & Windows Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200 metres)

1. 11. Shewearsthepants $17.00
2. 3. Super Fun $31.00
3. 6. Appraise $5.50
4. 5. Alinjer $9.50

Shewearsthepants chased the leader throughout and grabbed him in the shadows of the post with Daniel Schmitt in the saddle. Reasonably solid around the $17.00 mark, Schmitt gave the 6YO mare the perfect run on the back of Super Fun and stuck to the task despite the leader giving a good kick. Shewearsthepants is only a recent addition to the Leon Laskey stable and he appears to have her going as well as ever.

Shewearsthepants (Daniel Schmitt) wins race four in Launceston.

After winning at $151.00 the previous start, punters were again happy to overlook Super Fun who drifted from $13.00 out to $31.00. Just like last time, Jack Martin went to the front and he looked the winner everywhere bar the post. Appraise had to work three-wide without cover for much of the race so his effort to finish third with the seventh fastest last 400m of the meeting was excellent. Alinjer rattled home from the tail with the second fastest last 400m of the meeting in a much-improved performance from the first-up run. Tiesto was an interesting betting move, backed from $7.50 into $3.20 despite having form over much further and he finished just out of the placings.

To Follow: It was a nice return from Appraise who was the victim of a wide barrier.

Race 5 – 19:50 Tas Fumigation & Pet Services 3YO Cup (1200 metres)

1. 10. Still A Star $2.80
2. 2. Heaven’s Bonus $26.00
3. 11. Sirene Stryker $7.50
4. 5. Set Play $21.00

After starting her career with four straight second placings the bridesmaid tag has well and truly been shaken from Still A Star who took out the 3YO Cup, in a time that was around 6.5 lengths slower than the Newmarket. Well-supported from $4.20 into $2.80, the filly unleashed the fastest last 200m of the meeting to finish over the top of her rivals after being ridden with a smother for much of the race. The win brought up a double for Anthony Darmanin and Still A Star will be entitled to start favourite in the 1400m 3YO trophy off this performance.

Still A Star wins the $75,000 3YO Cup in Launceston.

Heaven’s Bonus was a huge effort to run second after racing without cover for much of the race. Like the winner, he looks only better suited over 1400m having won the Sires Produce over that trip last season. Sirene Stryker worked across from a wide alley early and acquitted herself very well finishing third off a decent early pace. Set Play was far from disgraced at his biggest career test finishing fourth, just ahead of easing $1.90 favourite Deroche who faded late after leading and will no doubt be better for the hit-out.

To Follow: Heaven’s Bonus put in an enormous effort and will be a much shorter price next start.

Race 6 – 20:25 Jacksons Security Newmarket Handicap (1200 metres)

1. 3. I’m Wesley $7.50
2. 5. Twitchy Frank $4.00F
3. 2. Hellova Street $4.40
4. 9. Gee Gee Secondover $6.00

I’m Wesley created history winning his third consecutive Newmarket in a time that was around five lengths outside his own track record. The 7YO was given the run of the race by Daniel Ganderton who landed behind the leader and a number of winners earlier in the program had already won from the same position. Off a fast early tempo, it was a great training effort by Glenn Stevenson to have the horse fit enough to hold off the challengers late, and he will tackle the Conquering Stakes with confidence on 18 December.

I’m Wesley (Dan Ganderton) makes it three Newmarket Handicaps in succession.

Twitchy Frank ($4.00) and Hellova Street ($4.40) were the two that punters landed on from an open betting market and that money wasn’t far way with the pair rounding out the trifecta. Both horses enjoyed good runs, with Twitchy Frank one off the fence and Hellova Street on the rail. As their respective campaigns continue, 1400-1600m races will suit. Off such a fast tempo, several horses simply couldn’t keep up early and weren’t able to make much of an impact despite good late sectionals. Gee Gee Secondover had the third fastest last 600m of the meeting to finish fourth, bettered only by Bosporus and Ruettiger who finished towards the rear but have run better than the result reads on paper.

To Follow: A Hellova Street – I’m Wesley rematch in the Conquering at Weight for Age is a tantalising prospect.

Race 7 – 21:00 Kevin Sharkie Benchmark 84 Handicap (1200 metres)

1. 1 Amaword $2.40F
2. 3. Balearic $5.50
3. 8. Silzoar $15.00
4. 2. Magnasa $13.00

Backed in from $3.50 to start $2.40, Amaword landed some good bets in the second leg of the quaddie. First-up from a spell, the horse looked to be in trouble under hard riding from David Pires before the home corner, but when he balanced up upon straightening the 6YO let down well to easily grab the two leaders who folded up over the last 100m. The winning time was the second fastest of the five 1200m races, just under a second slower than the win of I’m Wesley.

Amaword (David Pires) winning race seven in Launceston.

Balearic made a run from the back, looking a danger to the winner and was beaten less than half a length. He will be better at 1400m. Silzoar was solid in third after landing the prime position behind the leaders on the fence. Magnasa ran on from the tail to finish fourth while the two leaders Apriano and My Biddy both weakened late.

To Follow: Balearic at 1400m next start looks ready if a suitable race presents.

Race 8 – 21:30 Steve’s Liquor Benchmark 66 Handicap (1600 metres)6

1. 6. Sh’Bourne Star $13.00
2. 9. C’Est Bon $7.00
3. 2. Ocean Essence $2.10F
4. 7. Turtles Nest $51.00

Sh’Bourne Star was rewarded for a run of form that’s been better than it reads, getting up in the last few bounds for the formidable Bill Ryan-Brendon McCoull combination. The 6YO mare had been running on from the rear in races run to suit those on-speed and while you can easily argue the same occurred here, stepping up to 1600m she was able to wear down the leader. Bill Ryan may now consider stepping her up to 2100m off the strength off this win.

Sh’Bourne Star wins race eight in Launceston on Wednesday.

C’Est Bon dictated the race in front with Troy Baker in the saddle and he very nearly pinched the race. She was $9 into $7 late, perhaps with an eye to the tactics employed and she’s now put in three good runs this campaign. $2.10 favourite Ocean Essence couldn’t slot in early, and Anthony Darmanin may have raced further back than anticipated. Carrying 60kg he couldn’t unleash the sprint needed in the straight, though he was beaten less than half a length. Jodi Nicole dropped out to finish a distant last but was found to be lame post-race.

To Follow: C’Est Bon makes her own luck in these types of races.

Race 9 – 22:00 AWM Electrical Benchmark 74 Handicap (1400 metres)

1. 5. Gee Gees Queenie $4.60
2. 2. Dothraki Princess $6.00
3. 7. Thewordsout $16.00
4. 1. Underplay $8.00

Gee Gees Queenie had the drop on the leaders and put the race away comfortably in the last of the night. Backed in from $5.50 to start $4.40, the 5YO mare recorded her seventh career win and first since February this year. It was a good ride from Bulent Muhcu who stalked the speed before peeling out at the top of the straight, and the mare had the fastest last 400m of the race to win by over a length. The overall time was around seven lengths quicker than Luvahussy at the other end of the program.

Dothraki Princess led and gave a good sight in a rebound performance from a plain run the start prior. She was left in front a long way from home when La Dernier Fille was a beaten horse upon straightening. The run of the $2.50 favourite was a long way off what we saw first-up. Thewordsout hunted along the rail to run third ahead of Underplay who mixes his form.

To Follow: Gee Gees Queenie just rarely runs a bad race, and it’s hard to see her being far away in whatever her next assignment is.

Fastest 10 last 200m Stridemaster times

Fastest 10 last 400m Stridemaster times

Fastest 10 last 600m Stridemaster times