Tasracing

Launceston hosted another nine-race card on Wednesday in what was the third thoroughbred meeting in five days held in the state. The rail was out 9 metres from the 1200m and while the inside was perhaps an advantage early, that changed as the night went on and we saw several winners sweep down the outside. Craig Newitt and Anthony Darmanin both had riding doubles and training honours went to Stuart Gandy who also had two winners.

Race 1 – 5:54PM Cressy Chaff Cutters Longford Cup New Years Day Class 1 Hcp (1220 metres)

1. 14. Sidorova $4.00
2. 7. Gympins $7.50
3. 4. Stinka $21.00
4. 3. Oh So Needy $31.00

Sidorova ($5.50 into $4.00) sprinted quickly after peeling off the leaders back to win impressively in the first of the night. The 3YO filly had the right run, but she really put the race away with ease, running the fastest last 400m of the race. She may be a rung below the better 3YO’s this season but the overall time here was around four lengths quicker than the benchmark 66 later in the night.

Sidorova wins the first race by a good margin in Launceston.

Gympins $6.00 out to $7.50) made a run from back and wide to give an early indicator that the track was playing quite fairly. Outside the winner, the placegetters came from off the speed, with the leaders fading quickly from the home turn. Stinka ($21.00) and Oh So Needy ($21.00 out to $31.00) secured runs towards the inside to add plenty of value to exotics, while favourite punters were again burnt on Mystical Warrior ($2.15) who hasn’t finished the race off at either of his last two starts.

To Follow: Sidorova has been dominant in her last two wins.

Race 2 – 6:40PM 2YO Alexandra Plate (1120 metres)

1. 8. Gee Gee Josie $3.50
2. 10. Vivilici $6.50
3. 4. Le Cadeau $3.10F
4. 1. Gee Gee Can Win $10.00

Winkers on for the first time did the trick for Gee Gee Josie ($4.00 into $3.50) who won from the same position in-running as the first winner. Siggy Carr stuck to the inside rail in the home straight however and brought up her first winner since Melbourne Cup Day. The filly saved ground compared to the other placegetters which really won her the race as the second and third horses peaked on their runs late.

Gee Gee Josie narrowly edges out first starter Vivilici.

Vivilici ($5.00 out to $6.50) was the first starter given most chance of a debut win and went very close to pulling it off. Anthony Darmanin gave the filly a good run trailing the speed but couldn’t hold off Gee Gee Josie up the fence. La Cadeau ($3.70 into $3.10) copped interference early from Labby Rock ($31.00) who raced greenly which put him at a big disadvantage. Despite having the fastest last 600m of the race, Craig Newitt had to work early to get into the race and his run petered out with 100m to go.

To Follow: La Cadeau arguably wins the race without losing ground due to the early interference.

Race 3 – 7:10PM High Tea & Horses 10th January Benchmark 66 Hcp (1420 metres)

1. 9. Tiesto $9.00
2. 4. Appraise $4.00F
3. 8. Son of Faith $5.00
4. 6. Heaven’s Delight #13.00

Heavily backed the previous start, that was perhaps an indicator of what was to come for Tiesto ($6.00 out to $9.00) despite being a drifter winning over a more suitable distance. It was an excellent ride from Ismail Toker who found the 1-1 position despite jumping from gate 10. He made an early move down the side to avoid being pocketed and charged to a winning break on the home turn. Based on his previous form, he may only be better at a mile and upwards.

Tiesto (Ismail Toker) winning a BM66 over 1420m in Launceston.

Appraise ($4.40 into $4.00) had gate one so punters found him suspecting he would get the same run the previous two winners had, and while that occurred, Siggy Carr spent the entirety of the home straight looking for a run that only came when the race was over. Son of Faith ($6.50 into $5.00) was solid again enjoying a good run on-speed but barrier 11 couldn’t be overcome for Heaven’s Delight ($7.50 out to $13.00) who was never better than three-wide. Gee Gee Caughtya ($51.00 out to $41.00) ran home with the third fastest final 400m of the night and may be one that gets under the radar next start given his finishing position and SP.

To Follow: Appraise was a tough watch if you were on, which has happened to him quite a few times in his 10-start career.

Race 4 – 7:45PM Steve’s Liquor Maiden (1420 Metres) 

1. 9. Furtheronova $3.80
2. 5. Dinga’s Delight $12.00
3. 13. Stepaside Rousey $13.00
4. 2. My Kingdom $20.00

Furtheronova ($4.80 into $3.80) became yet another well-backed winner for the in-form Bill Ryan stable. After settling well back it appeared for most of the race that Furtheronova wasn’t much of a winning chance but when Brendon McCoull got her to the outside upon straightening, she had the seventh fastest final 200m of the night to pick up Dinga’s Delight who must’ve thought he had the race in his keeping. The overall time was 1.5 lengths quicker than the following maiden.

Furtheronova runs down the outside to win a maiden in Launceston.

The trifecta all ran on from off the speed. Dinga’s Delight ($7.00 out to $12.00) raced wide with cover and swept to the lead rounding the turn. On most other night’s he would now have a win on the board. Stepaside Rousey ($9.50 out to $10.00) also came from towards the tail of the field to run third, finishing ahead of My Kingdom ($12.00 out to $20.00) who raced three-wide without cover from gate six. The jury is well and truly out on Sir Da Vinci ($2.50 out to $2.90) who has now been beaten at under $3.00 in all three Tasmanian runs.

To Follow: The winner was excellent, but the run of My Kingdom was brave given the tough run and he has come back very well of a long layoff.

Race 5 – 8:20PM YRT Midweek Mingle Maiden (1420 Metres)

1. 11. Seguimientos $10.00
2. 4. Tee Jay Frankie $3.20F
3. 5. Up Wind $5.00
4. 9. Nippycool $11.00

Seguimientos ($6.50 out to $10.00) replicated the feats of Furtheronova in the previous race with a well-timed run down the outside for apprentice jockey Rose Pearson. The trifecta all drew wide and this race showed that racing wide with cover was no disadvantage. The form of Seguimientos got a big tick through Sidorova in the first of the night, and it will be interesting to see if the 3YO filly makes it out to the staying features as she was strong through the line here.

Seguimientos gets the best of a busy finish in Launceston.

Tee Jay Frankie ($3.20) sat ahead of the other placegetters in-running and raced nearer the inside rail in the straight. The photo could have gone any one of three ways and it’s fair to say he has his hoof on the till. Up Wind ($4.00 out to $5.00) was plunged the previous start but despite looking arguably better suited here was friendless in betting. He looked in trouble before the home turn but came again and likely wins the race with an extra few metres. The move for first starter Needs A Crown ($8.00 into $3.70) couldn’t be missed and he ran out of running room late.

To Follow: Tee Jay Frankie and Up Wind shouldn’t be maidens for much longer.

Race 6 – 9:00PM Ross Community Sports Club MDN/CL1 (2150 metres)

1. 8. Secret Gold $6.50
2. 4. Jophiel $18.00
3. 3. Captain Morgan $8.50
4. 6. Poole Harbour $19.00 & 7. Rhode Away $6.50

Secret Gold ($5.00 out to $6.50) become another winner to round the field from towards the back. She’s previously been a mare ridden on the pace but in recent times she’s settled much further back. Stepping up to 2100m seemed to be the key here as she was much stronger late than we’ve seen recently over 1600m.

Secret Gold (Anthony Darmanin) defeats Jophiel (Siggy Carr).

Jophiel ($12.00 out to $18.00) finished 0.8 lengths from the winner and the quinella put a good margin on Captain Morgan ($6.00 out to $8.50) in third. 1600m up to 2100m may have been a bridge too far for the well backed Banca Nip ($3.90 into $3.00) who never looked likely, while Orange Roughie ($14.00 out to $15.00) and Sardegna Deel ($6.00 out to $7.00) were caught in an early speed battle in front, and it was no great surprise to see them be the last two across the line.

To Follow: The first two gapped the rest so Jophiel may be the one to stick with in a similar race next start.

Race 7 – 9:30PM Book Your Christmas Function Benchmark 66 Hcp (1220 metres)

1. 5. Luca Bratzi $3.10
2. 6. Harriman $3.00F
3. 7. So White $9.00
4. 2. GeeGee Trendsetter $6.50

Luca Brazti ($3.40 into $3.10) settled behind the leader and proved too strong late for Harriman in what became a two-horse war in the final straight. The ability to settle closer to the speed was key given the task that Craig Newitt set himself from well back at the two previous starts. His last 600m and 400m was the fastest of the night, and if he can show some early tactical speed, he may be able to string a few wins together quickly.

Luca Bratzi edges out Harriman in race 7 in Launceston.

Harriman ($2.70 out to $3.00) completed a popular quinella and gave the winner all he could handle before being overpowered late. His last 400m was bettered only by Luca Bratzi on the night. There was a further 2.5 lengths back to So White ($7.00 out to $9.00) who was the first of the Glenn Stevenson pair home, with Lesnar ($3.60 out to $4.50) racing ungenerously in the run and never appearing a winning chance.

To Follow: Harriman races well in Devonport so Adam Trinder should have plenty of options for him in the next month.

Race 8 – 10:00PM Ingleby Farms Benchmark 60 Hcp (1620 metres)

1. 9. Our Declaration $3.40F
2. 8. Mag Wheels $6.50
3. 7. Furrrenzy $5.50
4. 10. Rodessa $10.00

Our Declaration ($4.20 into $3.40) became the first leader of the night to win, pinging straight to the front for Anthony Darmanin and proving too tough late. It was a gutsy effort from the horse who was pressured well before the home bend, and while the tempo wasn’t strong in-front he refused to wilt in what was clearly his best run this campaign. The overall time was around four lengths slower than the following race.

Our Declaration gets her nose in front over Mag Wheels in Launceston.

Mag Wheels ($7.00 into $6.50) landed in what has become the prime position in Launceston in recent months, behind the leader, and this was another race in two over the last 200m.The first two across the line ran home with very similar sectionals and there was nothing between them on the line. Furrrenzy ($5.00 out to $5.50) was three lengths astern in third.

To Follow: Mag Wheels is working up to the right distance and looks ready to win.

Race 9 – 10:30PM Launceston Travel & Cruise Centre Benchmark 84 Hcp (1620 metres)

1. 3. Shady Hustle $4.00
2. 4. Sir Simon $2.10F
3. 5. La Dernier Fille $4.00
4. 6. Cunning Fox $5.50

It was a four-horse race to finish the night and it took until the last few metres for the running order to change. Sir Simon ($2.30 into $2.10) led from Shady Hustle ($2.90 out to $4.00) throughout and Siggy Carr was able to dictate terms as she

Shady Hustle (Bulent Muhcu) wins the last of the night.

pleased. She couldn’t steal a break on the mare Shady Hustle though who challenged strongly for the length of the straight and got her head in front right on the winning post.

La Dernier Fille ($4.00 out to $4.80) was third throughout, finishing less than a length from the winner and this may have been the final hit-out for Cunning Fox ($4.40 out to $5.50) before the Longford Cup, and he is now looking for the 1800m of that race.

To Follow: Depending who else heads there, Cunning Fox looks a strong chance in the Longford Cup for John Blacker.

Top 10 final 200m times from Stridemaster

Top 10 final 400m times from Stridemaster

Top 10 final 600m times from Stridemaster