Devonport hosted a competitive nine-race card on Sunday which looks likely to have produced some very nice winners for the weeks and months going forward.
Interestingly it was a day where all winners were off the inside in the home straight and not a single leader won which is rare for the tight synthetic track.
There were doubles galore with Adam Trinder, Bill Ryan and Leanne Gaffney (trainer) and David Pires, Brendon McCoull and Ismail Toker (jockey) all finishing with two winners each.
The winners
1009m
Race 8 (Class 1) – Warrior Prince 59:94
Race 3 (3YO Maiden) – Michbar 1:00.54
1350m
Race 7 (Open hcp) – Balearic 1:21.19
Up Wind (Ismail Toker) wins a BM60 in Devonport on 2 August.
Race 4 (Maiden) – Runaway Girl 1:21.68
Race 6 (BM60) – Up Wind 1:23.22
Race 5 (Maiden) – Look to the Future 1:23.39
1650m
Race 9 (BM 66) – Sh’Bourne Renegade 1:41.80
Race 2 (Maiden) – Dunmining 1:42.35
Race 1 (Maiden) – Spirit of Wiora 1:43.65
Race summaries
Race 1: Blinkers did the trick for Spirit of Wiora ($8) who ran past the field from last for a strong victory. In a very slowly run race early, Kyle Maskiell looked to have a tough task from the back but thankfully for him Crowned Tainui ($31) made a mid-race move to inject some heat into the race. The winner broke 24 seconds for the final 400m and 12 seconds for the last 200m which shows how strong he was at the end of the mile and further distance looks up his alley off this effort. Banca Syd ($4) and Gee Gee Devonboy ($2.20F) rounded out a popular trifecta, settling first and second before the early move from the outsider.
Spirit of Wiora (Kyle Maskiell) wins the opening race in Devonport on 2 August.
Race 2: Swoopers fought out the finish as Dunmining ($3.70) beat home Captain Morgan ($3.40) with that pair putting four lengths on the third horse French Heiress ($4.20). Both horses settled well back in the run off a strong gallop set by the leader Revolution Queen ($21.00). Captain Morgan made an early move to hit the front in the straight but couldn’t hold off the challenge of Dunmining for Georgie Catania who went right on from a strong second in Hobart the previous start. This maiden was run around eight lengths quicker than the opening race and saw some big margins through the field as a result.
Race 3: It may have only been a maiden, but the run of the day belonged to Michbar ($4.60 into $3.70) who overcome a wide run on-speed for apprentice Thomas Doyle. Drawing the widest gate over 1009m in Devonport is as tough as they come, and Doyle had no luck crossing the field but despite that the gelding was too strong late. The overall time was only three lengths slower than his stablemate who won the Class 1, so he looks set for a strong 3YO season. Reite Den Blitz ($1.90F) was backed from the time markets opened to eventually start in the red. After being a step slow early she didn’t have a lot of peace in front and it’s worth noting most winners come down the middle of the track and wider, with some reports the inside might not have been the best ground on the day.
Race 4: Runaway Girl ($5) had frustrated punters in three Hobart runs this campaign but rewarded those who stuck with her with a soft win on the synthetic. David Pires gave the mare a gun ride settling behind a fast tempo for the grade and despite her wanting to drift out in the straight she was far too good. It took her 20 starts to win her maiden, but the overall time was only around three lengths slower than the open handicap, so she may be able to string a few wins together. Orange Roughie ($3.60 into $2.50F) was heavily backed but had to settle for his 10th placing in 17 career starts. With a further four lengths back to Little Hot Missile ($4.20) in third, it seems Orange Roughie is going well enough to win a maiden soon and perhaps connections can take heart from the winner here being a similar story as far as persistence goes.
Look to the Future (Brendon McCoull) wins his maiden in Devonport on 2 August.
Race 5: Despite opening long odds on, punters were happy to take the shorts about Look to the Future ($1.30F) who proved his class late in the piece. He looked to be clearly the standout in the race but in what was a very moderately run affair it took the 3YO a while to wind up and wear down the leader Gee Gees Keylargo ($26) as Dianne Parish controlled terms in front. Eventually it was a soft win on the line but the overall time being the slowest of the four 1350m races on the day suggests this won’t be the strongest form going forward.
Race 6: The well-supported Up Wind ($3.70 into $2.70F) got a nice steer by Ismail Toker to land the first leg of the quaddie. In a very slowly run race that saw horses climbing over each other back in the field, Toker made sure to give his mount room and was out running with momentum on the home corner. The first four across the line recorded the fastest last four 400m sectionals of the day to show how this race was run. Vallabar ($4.20 out to $5.50) was a shade disappointing being able to lead as he pleased while Zagame ($10) in particular was a forgive run after drawing inside and never seeing much daylight buried back in the field.
Race 7: Balearic ($5.50) made it a race to race double for Ismail Toker and Leanne Gaffney continuing the terrific run that Gaffney is having. The 6YO gelding had never won in five previous first-up attempts and entering the race without a trial it was a great training effort to have the horse ready to fire over 1350m. Horses were spread all over the home straight late, but the quinella with GeeGee Trendsetter ($11) in second settled on the rail before turning for home. Amaword ($7.50) and Fragment ($4.40) both covered considerably more ground than the first two to round out the placings while Century Arrow ($3.90 into $3.20F) was backed hard late but didn’t give a lot in the straight despite getting his favoured role leading the field.
Balearic (Ismail Toker) gives Leanne Gaffney a race to race double in Devonport on 2 August.
Race 8: In a thrilling race over the concluding stages, Warrior Prince ($2.35F) had the better of the finish to give Adam Trinder and David Pires doubles for the day. It was a relatively on-pace dominated race with Bandinelli ($11) racing to the outside of Blushed ($3.80) with the winner camping just behind. Blushed was almost too bad to be true, weakening quickly on the home bend and would eventually finish last, leaving Bandinelli in front a long way out. The quinella put three lengths on Uninterrupted ($17) in third so it looks as though trainer Siggy Carr has acquired a horse that can win her races down here while Warrior Prince along with stablemate and earlier winner Michbar looks set for an exciting campaign.
Race 9: The last of the day saw the field busted up as Kathonious ($19), Flourishing Future ($10) and Time Stalker ($101) shot well clear before fading to finish as the last three across the line. It was a race the market had wrong with the friendless Sh’Bourne Renegade ($5 out to $8.50) defying a drift to win his third race in a row. He was well ridden by Brendon McCoull who was able to leave the inside at the right times despite drawing gate one, and he finished down the middle of the straight as most previous winners preferred to do. His winning streak has been produced at all three main Tasmanian racetracks which shows the versatility of the horse. Manilenya ($3.20F) made her runs on the inside which perhaps wasn’t suited on the day to run second, while a huge move for Submit Another ($9.50 out to $3.40) never looked like coming off, finishing fifth after always racing well back in the field.
FORMPLUS Black Bookers
Michbar – The run speaks for itself. Massive effort to win, particularly with big wraps on the second horse Reite Den Blitz.
Bandinelli – It took a handy one to beat him. Looks a good pick-up for Siggy Carr whose team is going well since the COVID-19 resumption.
Watch the replay of Michbar winning a 3YO Maiden on Sunday.