Last Wednesday in Launceston the night belonged to couple Siggy Carr and Troy Baker who both had trebles, Siggy from a training perspective and Troy in the saddle.
There were multiple winners across the board though with Brendon McCoull riding two winners, both for Adam Trinder. Scott Brunton also had a training double and David Pires finished with back-to-back winners to close out the night.
The track
This was the first ever meeting with the rail in the 11m position and it produced a really fair racing surface.
Runners seemed keen to keep away from the inside couple of lanes on the track which enabled runners to make ground from the back if the pace of the race allowed.
The winners
1120m
Race 7 (BM84) – Liffeybeau 1:06.37
Race 8 (0-66) – Invincible Rock 1:07.21
Has The Look (Brandon Louis) wins a maiden in Launceston.
1220m
Race 3 (Class 1) – Our Shinkansen 1:11.87
1420m
Race 2 (Maiden) – Northern Spirit 1:26.35
Race 1 (Maiden) – Has the Look 1:26.84
1620m
Race 9 (BM74) – Sir Simon 1:37.68
Race 4 (0-60) – Coronation Pia 1:39.43
2150m
Race 5 (Maiden/Class 1) – Dusty Joe 2:13.59
Race 6 (BM66) – Odin’s Folly 2:16.44
Race summaries
Race 1: Dianne Parish aboard Stowport Road ($31) raced out to a huge lead busting this field open and making it tough for backmarkers to get involved and that suited the easing Has the Look ($3.50 out to $5) who was a strong winner to start the night. On the quick back-up having raced a week prior, the fitness edge was telling in a race like this with the horse clearly the strongest through the line after Brandon Louis gave the filly a good ride in the front half of the field. Olympic Honour ($2.70 into $2.45F) had to tow the field up to the tearaway leader and did a good job to box on for second. An avalanche of money came for Brew Horse ($14 into $4.20) at just his second start and he was ok without ever really travelling like a winner, while Tassie O’reilly ($3.20 out to $6) went the other way in betting and didn’t have much go right from a wide barrier but hit the line well when the race was over.
Our Shinkansen (Brendon McCoull) wins a C1 over 1220m in Launceston.
Race 2: Northern Spirit ($13) started a big night for Siggy Carr and Troy Baker when they partnered to take out the second race. It was an impressive performance from the 3YO filly who was a month between runs, rising from 1120m to 1420m but still hit the line better than anything else in the race. She looks to have some staying potential. It was a tough watch for favourite backers on Supalopo ($1.65 into $1.40F), Ismail Toker was posted wide from a bad barrier for much of the race and left in front at the top of the straight, he layed in sharply to be run down in the closing stages. It was a big run though and he’ll be short again in a maiden next start. Despite the fast pace set by the leader in the opening race, this was the fastest of the two maidens by about three lengths with considerably quicker run home times.
Race 3:Brendon McCoull delivered a gun ride aboard Our Shinkansen ($2.90 out to $3.80) to win a deep class 1. McCoull saved ground from an inside draw before peeling off the fence down the side of the track and got to the outside in the home straight where the 4YO mare had to chase hard to grab the leader War Correspondent ($3.60 out to $4.80). The leader set a good clip in front without a lot of peace and comfortably beat off all those that raced near him. The quinella put over two lengths on a bunch for the minor placings with only half a length splitting third through sixth. Gee Gees Darl ($10 out to $14) closed hard from the back while the money horse Assaranca ($5 into $3.40F) struggled for clear room at stages but also lacked the dash of the first three, suggesting she’s already looking for more ground.
Coronation Pia (Troy Baker) wins a 0-60 Hcp over 1620m in Launceston.
Race 4: Siggy Carr and Troy Baker both had doubles through four races when Baker steered home Coronation Pia ($6) in expert fashion. Generally a mare that settles well back, Baker found a great spot in the front half of the field and when he was level with the leaders turning for home, the honest 6YO mare was always going to be tough to hold out. Spihro ($8.50 out to $12) raced forward with only a moderate tempo set by the leader and race favourite Kel’s Star ($3.80 into $3.20) who was disappointing in the run home. This race was around 10.5 lengths slower than the other 1620m race (BM74) and while that is obviously a much better grade, the gap is reflective of the fact that most of this field appear limited to the BM60-66 range.
Race 5: Short price punters didn’t have things go right with Supalopo but they atoned when Dusty Joe ($1.65 into $1.45F) was a soft winner for Adam Trinder and Brendon McCoull. It was another faultless ride from McCoull who kept the favourite in the right spot throughout but the 4YO gelding didn’t really put the race away as his form and starting price suggested. The result was a length on the line to Full Knots Ahead ($9.50 out to $14) who backed up a good performance on Melbourne Cup Day. This was the sixth consecutive win for the team of A.Trinder/B.McCoull who are clearly a formidable combination at present.
Liffeybeau (Troy Baker) wins a BM84 over 1120m in Launceston.
Race 6: Odin’s Folly ($3.40 out to $4.20) won the first leg of the quaddie, leading all the way in a race that was run at a farcically slow tempo. Full credit goes to Georgie Catania who set the pace on the 6YO mare as is the horse’s pattern, but she was allowed to dictate an overall time that was 17 lengths slower than the previous race (Mdn/C1), despite a last 800m that was nine lengths quicker. One can only assume that the beaten brigade had doubts over their horse’s staying capabilities, in particular market fancies Tee Jay Frankie ($4.60 out to $6) and Mywordis ($3.70F). Just 0.7 lengths covered the first five which didn’t include a market move that went amiss on Gee Gee Caughtya ($12 into $6.50).
Race 7: Liffeybeau ($3.60EF) was back in the winner’s circle for the first time in 11 starts, delivering Troy Baker his third winner for the night. The 7YO gelding was always travelling sweetly outside the leader Apriano (8 into $6) and had enough in the straight to hold off Gee Gee Double Dee ($3.30 out to $3.60EF) and Uber Ed ($5 into $3.60EF) where strangely the trifecta all finished with the same SP. Trainer Michael Trinder explained post-race that the win was expected and he is potentially a Newmarket starter next week. Just three lengths split the small field of five and I don’t think any of the beaten runs will be much of a setback to their preparation.
Race 8: Invincible Rock ($11 into $8.50) scored a tough all the way win to deliver Siggy Carr her first training treble. Under hard riding from David Pires the top rider was able to get the best out of the 6YO gelding who is generally better over a bit further and doesn’t have a great first-up record. The horse has now placed at 20 of his 37 career starts including five wins, but this result suggests that this may be his best campaign yet. The race produced some of the fastest last 400m and 200m sectionals of the night, headed by Sidorova ($5.50 into $3.70F) who ran on from towards the back for second in a good first-up effort. Artuso ($3.60 out to $4.20) raced outside the winner so was perhaps a touch plain but I think he is better with something to chase and he just held out Lady Joker ($4 out to $5) who was another good closer for third. Sellick ($4) raced wide without cover, so first-up off an injury you can excuse his inability to finish the race off with the run he had.
Sir Simon (David Pires) wins a BM74 over 1620m in Launceston.
Race 9: Sir Simon ($1.40F) was in a different class to finish the night, a dominant winner to give David Pires a race-to-race double. Pires didn’t have things his own way early but put paid to the opposition turning for home and had almost five lengths in hand to stablemate Banstead ($5.50 out to $7.50) on the line. The Cups are being touted for the 7YO gelding but with his strong record around the mile, he’d be awfully hard to beat in WFA races like the Conquering, Tasmanian Stakes and Mowbray Stakes. Forgive the run of Aspirate ($7 out to $10) with the saddle slipping on Kyle Maskiell.
FORMPLUS Black Book
Northern Spirit and Supalopo – I think the quinella are worth following from the second race. Supalopo was black booked after his first-up run, the problem with him is that he is unlikely to be much of a price. I really liked the win of Northern Spirit who may have the potential to head to 3YO staying features if things go to plan.
Watch the replay of Northern Spirit winning a maiden over 1420m.