It was a competitive day’s racing in Devonport on Sunday with six of the nine races decided by less than a length and quite a few blanket finishes.
Punters now have a consistent bank of synthetic form to work with and that’s resulting in a good run for favourites with the first five races on Sunday all taken out by the favoured runner.
David Pires and Bulent Muhcu shared riding honours with respective doubles, while nine trainers shared the winners but it’s worth mentioning Gaeton Delon who had a winner with his first ever starter as a trainer.
Unfortunately due to technical problems, Stridemaster data was not available for the majority of horses on Sunday.
The winners
1150m
Race 6 (BM74) – GeeGee Trendsetter 1:08.98
Race 3 (0-64) – Silkstone – 1.09.18
GeeGee Trendsetter (Siggy Carr) gets up to win the BM74 1150m in Devonport.
Race 2 (3YO Maiden) – Gamble in Paris 1:09.60
1350m
Race 9 (Class 1) – Galway Girl 1:21.81
Race 1 (Maiden) – Orange Roughie 1:22.23
Race 7 (Class 3) – Sh’bourne Rebel 1:22.59
Race 8 (Class 1) – Kombacy 1:22.76
1880m
Race 4 (Maiden/Class 1) – Dixie’s Boy 1:58.13
Race 5 (Open Hcp) – Sh’bourne Renegade 2:00.05
Race summaries
Race 1: After 10 minor placings from 17 starts without a win, 5YO gelding Orange Roughie ($2.20F) finally broke through for a deserved win. It was a quieter ride from Bulent Muhcu who positioned midfield when the horse generally races in the first few horses. The tactics worked well as this race was strongly run for the class, recording a faster overall time than higher grade races later in the program. Scratching’s took away from the depth of the race with Olympic Honour ($3.40) and Gaius Julius ($6.50) rounding a trifecta that consisted of the three horses at the head of the market.
Gamble in Paris (David Pires) wins an 1150m maiden in Devonport.
Race 2: Wesley Vale trainer Gaeton Delon had a winner with his first ever starter as Gamble in Paris ($2.30 out to $3F) delivered a strong win. David Pires worked across to sit outside the leader Kohima ($5) and after he went past that horse at the top of the straight, it took hard riding from Pires to hold off the challenge of Gee Gees Teardrop ($5) who had the sit on the leading pair. The market had this one right with Hero of Romani ($7 into $5.50) running fourth and the top four putting a gap on the rest. The overall time was only around 2.5 lengths slower than the following race, which bodes well for this form in future starts.
Race 3: Silkstone ($3.30) continued his incredibly consistent Tasmanian form with a tough victory. His first Tassie start was a win on Hobart Cup day, and he has yet to miss the top three in six subsequent runs. Ismail Toker managed to get outside the leader from the widest draw which was the winning move. He was there to be beaten by Ivoryman ($13 into $11) who was specked at a price for the length of the straight, but he held a half-length margin on the line. Little separated Ivoryman, Divisor ($13) and Trojan Storm ($8) who rounded out the first four. Tough Boy ($4.40 into $3.40) was well backed into almost joint favouritism but the decision to restrain early after jumping well meant he raced three-wide without cover and could only battle away in the run to the post.
Race 4: Dixie’s Boy ($3.30F) led from start to finish for his second career win. Troy Baker worked to hold the lead early before slowing the pace down mid-race and then kicking off the corner. He ran this race on his terms but that was almost not enough to hold off the fast finishing Rubyranger ($14). Thomas Doyle went back from a poor draw before charging down the outside in the home straight, and there is little doubt if he was a bit closer in running the mare would have won the race. Odin’s Folly ($7 into $4.40) had good market support but lost her spot outside the lead mid-race, which was perhaps the difference in a tight finish with Hunch ($16) closing well for fourth, less than a length from the winner.
Dixie’s Boy and Troy Baker.
Race 5: The winning streak of Sh’Bourne Renegade ($2.30F) extended to five and completed his rapid rise from maiden galloper to open class winner in one preparation. This race was run incredibly slowly resulting in an overall time that was 11 lengths behind the maiden/class 1 despite having the fastest last 600m of the day by a considerable margin. The farcical pace set by the leaders White Hawk ($6) and Wineglass Bay ($15) meant the field bunched before the home turn and the race suited the two with the best turn of foot and that was the winner and Ethical Dilemma ($3.40). Credit to Sh’bourne Renegade and the training performance of Bill Ryan to have him win five in a row when he hadn’t placed in his first seven career starts but this race can essentially be disregarded from a form perspective.
Race 6: The gap came at just the right time for GeeGee Trendsetter ($6 out to $8) who won a thrilling benchmark 74 where just 0.7 lengths separated the first 6 horses across the line. Siggy Carr sweated on a run behind the leaders which didn’t present until the last 100m. The mare had enough to dash to hold off Gee Gee Double Dee ($6.50 out to $9.50) who settled a clear last and Heaven’s Delight ($26 out to $41) who was also well back in the field. The race was similar to the open handicap over the same distance a fortnight ago where the leaders didn’t go hard, and the field raced tight throughout leading to a few bad luck stories. Star Thoroughbreds pair Cranbrook ($8) and Kwai ($2.80F) had no luck slotting in from wide draws, never better than three and four wide throughout, with the other Gaffney runner Miss Excess ($12) in fourth. The leader Words of Pride ($4) received pressure but was a bit disappointing in the run to the line.
Race 7: A quality ride from Brendon McCoull helped deliver Sh’Bourne Rebel ($2.50F) a hat-trick of wins, following in the steps of his full-brother Sh’Bourne Renegade earlier in the day. Despite drawing the widest gate and stepping slowly, McCoull was able to find a spot midfield with cover after riding aggressively early as opposed to accepting a position trailing the field. He had to make a run on the home corner without a cart into the race, but he still held a solid margin on the line to Magic Waler ($3.90 into $3.30) who had every chance to beat him after getting the rails passage in the straight. The overall time was only moderate for the 1350m races on the day but there is little doubt the winner is racing in great form. Gee Gee Top Tip ($41) ran on well for the second consecutive start and she’s going far better than her recent SP’s give her credit for.
Sh’bourne Rebel (Brendon McCoull) wins a 1350m class 3 hcp in Devonport.
Race 8: Kombacy ($8) arrived at just the right time to give jockey Bulent Muhcu a double for the day. It was a similar story to last time for Kombacy who flashed home from the tail to run second over the same trip, but fortunately for connections she went one better on Sunday. She has shown herself to be the type of horse who will always rely on luck from the back, but she has a good turn of foot when close enough to use it. Favourite Dusty Joe ($1.75F) had to work to find the front and once there received pressure from two horses that are normally ridden back in the field, Ascot Lad ($8) and Cambalache ($31). That trio essentially ended each other’s chances, but it’s worth noting that even though it looked like the leaders went very hard, the overall time was almost a full second slower than the following race in the same grade. With backmarkers having their chance, Sheorta ($9.50) and Gee Gees Punter (6.50) ran on from off the pace to fill the placings.
Race 9: In a messy race to finish the day Galway Girl ($3.20 out to $5.50) defied a betting drift to win at her second Tasmanian start. Apprentice Brandon Louis had the mare positioned in a good spot better than midfield but caused interference at the 600m mark which ended the chances of Audrey ($10 into $6.50) and had a domino effect for those around her including Ravage ($6 into $4.80) and She Zed So ($21 into $9). After the incident the winner enjoyed a good run through the field as did long shot Stanfield Carus ($41) who is a former King Island runner. Needadollarbill ($2.70 out to $3.40) raced ahead of the drama so he was a bit disappointing with every opportunity and Mystical Warrior ($4.60 out to $6) had a wide run but again failed to flatter despite being right at the head of the market.
FORMPLUS Black Bookers
Gee Gee Top Tip – Started $101 and $41 at her last two starts but has hit the line well to be beaten less than a length on both occasions. Worth following in the short term, particularly if the market keeps dismissing her.
Watch the replay of Sh’bourne Rebel winning again, with Gee Gee Top Tip in third.