In Brief
- Missed start a blessing for War Correspondent.
- Skip Town Mike delivers first-up for Stevenson.
- Former King Islander not far off a win.
Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson walked away from his home track in Devonport on Sunday with a double, but it could easily have been three.
Stevenson prepared War Correspondent to win the Ladbrokes 1009-metre maiden and later in the day Skip Town Mike powered home to take out the benchmark 66 handicap over 1650m.
In the last of eight races, former King Islander Valcurl finished second but had the six-year-old had an ounce more luck he could easily have saluted.
War Correspondent was having his second start, but the gelded son of Time for War achieved the desired result courtesy of a complete reversal of the racing pattern he showed on debut when second in late June.
On debut War Correspondent showed tremendous speed to share the lead but this time he missed the start and was ridden from well back in the field.
“We learned a bit about this horse today and it was all good,” Stevenson said.
“By him missing the start and having to settle back in the race Daniel (Ganderton) was able to get him to settle and then finish off powerfully.
“He has always shown early speed and that is still an asset, but it means we don’t have to go forward on him when and if he draws a bad gate.”
Skip Town Mike (Dan Ganderton) after his impressive win in Devonport.
Stevenson said he will wait until the gelding has tackled a class one before thinking about aiming the gelding at the $100,000 3YO Cup in November.
Skip Town Mike (Daniel Ganderton) was trained by Stevenson for one preparation last year that produced three wins, but the gelding was transferred back to trainer Mark Ganderton when that trainer returned from a disqualification.
However, after only two starts this season, Ganderton was again ousted by stewards over a misdemeanour, so the horse was again placed with Stevenson.
“The horse came to me obviously very fit and he was ready to win, and he’s done the job well today but he’s a good-doing horse and I reckon we can back him up next week and he’ll be hard to beat again.”
Valcurl was having his first start for Stevenson and did enough to suggest a win isn’t far away.
Valcurl had two starts in Victoria for Shane Nichols before heading to King Island in November 2017, but it was almost a year to the day that he had his first official trial on the island.
The gelded son of Host won three for King Island trainer Ron Crack before landing in Stevenson’s yard.
Watch War Correspondent come from near last to win a maiden in Devonport.