Tasracing

The track

The track was downgraded to a soft 5 just prior to the first race off the back of light showers in Launceston through the day. Despite most riders reporting early on that they expected the inside to chop out, that never really eventuated and the front half of the program in particular favoured on-pace runners. The first four races all saw the winner sitting first or second on the home turn and it was a night where it was tough to make ground from the back.

The winners

1120m

Race 9 (BM 74 Hcp) – GeeGee Trendsetter 1.06.38

Race 2 (Class 1) – Gee Gee Acehigh 1.07.18

1220m

Race 1 (Maiden) – Perfect Words 1.13.09

1420m

Race 8 (BM 84 Hcp) – Uber Ed 1.25.94

Race 7 (BM 66 Hcp) – White Cliffs 1.26.13

Race 3 (BM 60 Hcp) – Mr Tindall 1.26.61

1620m

Race 4 (Class 3 Hcp) – Rough Road 1.40.83

2150m

Race 5 (BM 84 Hcp) – White Hawk 2.13.08

Race 6 (Maiden/Class 1) – My Kingdom 2.14.94

Race summaries

Race 1: Perfect Words ($2.05F) was backed like a good thing and won like it in the first of the night. $3.00 was available when markets opened and he was well supported right until the jump. After stepping slowly at her two previous starts, Craig Newitt didn’t have that problem this time and when he led on the fence the race was essentially over. First starter Supalopo ($10.00) secured inside runs from midfield to grab second ahead of the horse given the main chance of upsetting the favourite in Red Roger ($5.00) who was a drifter and after settling with only a couple behind him, he never looked the winner despite having the fastest last 200m of the race.

Gee Gee Acehigh (Daniel Ganderton) winning in Launceston on 18 March

Race 2: Punters found Sonar Strike ($3.40F) who had his form franked in the first race but after racing outside the lead he faded to run more like his SP last start. Gee Gee Acehigh ($4.00) had the favoured position leading on the rail, and when the filly put paid to the favourite outside her turning for home it was a soft victory. She appreciated the drop in class and really had things made to order. Holy Diamond ($4.40) made good ground from the tail to run second and continue his solid run of form.

Race 3: After a pair of runs settling midfield or worse Mr Tindall ($8.00) returned to racing on-speed and secured the prize in a pick-up ride for jockey/trainer Siggy Carr. The early pattern of the night and lack of obvious leader leant itself to these tactics and there are few riders you prefer to have on-pace than Siggy. Mulley’s Idol ($12.00) had the right run and used it to run into second, getting the type of track he likes. Zipponet ($31.00) got to the outside in the home straight and ran third at a big price, with excuses for Le Monde De Lucas ($3.80F) who was back and wide from a poor draw and Ilfracombe ($6.50) who could never get clear after finding an awkward spot midfield on the fence. Early leader Spearhead ($4.00) was well in the market but faded to finish a distant last at his first Tasmanian appearance.

Race 4: This race was nothing more than a jog in front and as such produced most of the best closing sectionals for the night. The slow pace suited Rough Road ($2.35F) who was backed in from better than $3.00 late, and had the leaders back in the run before securing a split on the home turn. For a horse who was perhaps a query at the mile, the race couldn’t have played out any better and was well ridden by Scarlet So. Give Us A Winner ($15.00) had things on his terms in front so was entitled to hold on for second ahead of Paion ($5.00) who had late support and was the best of the run on horses in a race where anything settling outside the first couple had little chance.

Rough Road (Scarlet So) and trainer John Blacker after the geldings win in Launceston on 18 March.

Race 5: Two runs in five days across different states might not be the ideal setup but it worked for Angela Brakey and White Hawk ($3.10) who was another winner well found late in betting and outstayed his opposition. Kanji ($9.50) controlled the race in front as he likes to do and after sprinting clear on the turn and beating off Our Declaration ($2.80F) who was at his tail for most of the race, it looked like an upset result but White Hawk stuck to the task and was clearly the strongest in the race late. It was a good ride from Troy See who was under pressure a long way from home with the 6YO gelding not suited in sit/sprint affairs. The quinella are proven in this grade which perhaps found out the favourite who was rising from benchmark 66 level.

Race 6: My Kingdom ($14.00) raced like a horse looking for further in Hobart and that proved to be the case with credit going to a great winning ride from Brendon McCoull. With the front half of the field climbing all over each other off a slow pace, McCoull stayed clear of trouble and timed his runs to perfection. Rhode Away ($1.45F) was backed in from even money and was a tough watch for those who took the short odds. David Pires hunted up early to land at the leaders back, but when the brakes were clamped up front the horse was pocketed and then over-raced for more than half the 2150m distance. The overall time was 11 lengths slower than the last time Rhode Away ran over this distance with the rail out 9 metres on 11 December, and although that was a good 4 track compared to a soft 5 on Wednesday night it gives an indicator as to how slowly this race was run.

Race 7: The performance of the night belonged to White Cliffs ($2.05F) who won his third consecutive start but easily his most impressive. After winning from on-speed in maiden and class 1 company, the 3YO was slowly away forcing Brendon McCoull to race in the back half of the field. Despite the pattern for the night, he rounded up the field with ease and the overall time was only a touch over a length slower than Uber Ed in higher grade. He clearly looks a horse going places. Of the rest, Louise ($7.00) showed the inside was holding up fine, working along the rail having drawn gate 1 to run into second with leader Weekend Whisky ($14.00) feeling the pinch late as he did first-up but holding third.

Uber Ed (David Pires) grabs outsider Shewearsthepants right on the line in Launceston.

Race 8: As much as $7.00 was available when markets opened for Uber Ed ($2.00F) but he was even money come race time and landed the plunge by the skin of his teeth. Pires settled the 5YO in the back half but it was a race where the pressure came in well before the home turn and despite Shewearsthepants ($17.00) making an early run without a cart into the race, that horse was awfully brave in the straight and Uber Ed only wore her down in the last few strides. The winner was perhaps entitled to do just that with the run he had, but he has been up a long time this prep. The third horse Balearic ($8.50) protested against Shewearsthepants which was dismissed but it certainly could have gone either way when viewing the head-on replay, and he was a forgive run after not getting clear in the straight.

Race 9: GeeGee Trendsetter ($4.00) atoned for an unlucky second in Hobart to go one better with the run of the race for Siggy Carr. She landed the 1-1 position from a wide draw and knows the horse well with Wednesday’s result being her third win aboard the horse. For the second straight race Craig Newitt was a hard luck story from the inside draw, this time aboard Liffeybeau ($4.60) who could only flash late when the race was over. Gee Gee True Story ($3.00F) loomed to win at the top of the straight but didn’t finish off and ran fourth.

Watch the replay of the impressive White Cliffs winning in benchmark 66 grade.