Eight races were run in Hobart on Sunday where the spoils were shared evenly. In somewhat of a rarity no individual trainer or jockey had more than one winner.
The track
It rained for most of the first half of the program, but it wasn’t enough to see a track downgrade and the surface was rated a good 4 for every race.
The track played particularly fair, evident by the last two races where the winner in race 7 came from last and the winner of race 8 sat outside the leader.
The winners
900m
Race 2 (2YO Maiden) – GeeGee Lucky Jess 54.89
1000m
Race 8 (BM60) – Little River Boy 1:00.77
Little River Boy (Brendon McCoull) winning the last race in Hobart on 15 November.
1100m
Race 3 (3YO Maiden) – Kay Oh Ell 1:08.88
Race 4 (Maiden) – Kohima 1:09.16
1200m
Race 1 (BM74) – Manilenya 1:13.70
1400m
Race 7 (BM66) – Paion 1:29.19
1600m
Race 6 (0-66) – Vallabar 1:43.97
Race 5 (Maiden) – French Heiress 1:44.67
Race summaries
Race 1: It was an upset to start the day with Manilenya ($10 out to $14) landing a first-up win, running down hot favourite Easy Road ($1.45 into $1.30F) right on the post. Gee Gee Lanett ($3.60 out to $5) led at a moderate gallop which ensured the field was compact enough to allow the horse with the best closing sectionals to win the race and that was Manilenya. On her day she’s a quality performer and her best performances have generally been in Hobart. The favourite was disappointing relative to his SP, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t rise in distance next start.
Manilenya (Bulent Muhcu) wins a BM74 handicap in Hobart.
Race 2: The market move was right in the first 2YO race of the season with the heavily supported GeeGee Lucky Jess ($8.50 into $3.50) winning with a professional performance. Stuart Gandy frequently produces early 2YO’s that race beyond their experience and the filly was no exception, racing straight to the front under Siggy Carr to beat off the challenge of Champagne Cinders ($14 out to $20) that raced to her outside. Race favourite Fighting Styx ($2F) ducked in under the whip in the home straight before coming again late and she looks one in particular that will benefit from the race day outing.
Race 3: The roller coaster start for punters continued in the third with 3YO filly Kay Oh Ell ($41) winning for trainer Yassy Nishitani. The ride won the race as apprentice Ianish Luximon saved ground by cutting the corner from well back in the field which enabled him to wear down Sharma Rama ($2.80 out to $3.20) who looked a certain winner. The second horse raced three-wide throughout the race and that ultimately left her a sitting shot late. The big market mover Gee Gees Jennia ($3.50 into $2.25F) was slowly away and although she raced outside the winner in running, she rounded the field turning for home rather than saving any ground and she finished a closing third.
Kay Oh Ell (Ianish Luximon) winning a maiden in Hobart
Race 4: Kohima ($2.30 out to $3.60) defied a market drift to breakthrough for a deserved maiden win at start seven. This looked easier on paper than what the 3YO gelding had been contesting and while Brandon Louis sat outside the leader Coronation Doris ($26), he was left in front a long way from home and had to stave off a blanket of challengers with only 1.4 lengths covering the first five. Red October ($26) made good ground out wide to flash into second ahead of the returning Fighting Frank ($13 into $6.50) who was well-backed. Reddisun ($7 out to $12) was held up early in the straight so was perhaps a touch unlucky and the favourite Dolce Casa ($2.60 into $1.95F) had the right run but was one paced when asked for the big effort. This maiden was a couple of lengths slower than the previous race.
Race 5: The closest finish of the day was the first leg of the quaddie with French Heiress ($4.20 into $3.30) getting the photo over Readily Rewarded ($2.05F) in a popular quinella. Ismail Toker found a nice midfield spot in the run but as others made their move it seemed he may have missed the boat but his run was well-timed as the second horse was the stronger closer despite coming from last and would have won in another bound. Encosta Fiorente ($20 out to $31) put in clearly a career best effort to hold third ahead of Signal Hill ($5 out to $7) but with 0.7 lengths between the first four they could all lay claim to a similar race next start.
Vallabar (Kyle Maskiell) easily wins a 0-66 handicap over 1600m.
Race 6: Scott Brunton saddled up four in the race and they were the first four across the line, headed by race favourite Vallabar ($1.55 out to $2). The 5YO gelding was a drifter, perhaps due to some pre-race antics but the result rarely looked in doubt with Kyle Maskiell enjoying the run of the race. Sky Fox ($5.50 into $3.80) blew the start but that didn’t stop David Pires whipping around the field early in what appeared a pre-determined decision to lead at any cost. That move gave the winner the perfect trail and he booted clear off the home corner with clearly the fastest closing sectionals in the race.
Race 7: Paion ($4.80 into $3.80) put the writing on the wall with an excellent second first-up and duly delivered a victory the following start. Troy Baker was forced to come from last but thankfully for him the tempo was solid through Flourishing Future ($21) and Cormac ($61) who would drop out to finish as the last two across the line. Down the outside rail Paion was too strong late for Boom Dot Com ($5) and Kuroset ($2.05 out to $2.40) who both ran well but were up in grade when you look at the quality of races the winner has contested in the past. The first-up run of 9YO Reann’s Diamond ($17 out to $21) showed she still has plenty in the tank, her effort to finish fourth was brave after racing wide and hitting the front on the home turn.
Paion (Troy Baker) wins a BM66 in Hobart on 15 November.
Race 8: Bookies took a hit in the last race with the very well-supported Little River Boy ($7 into $3.90F) scoring his second straight victory. It was an impressive performance from the John Luttrell-trained 5YO gelding who rose 9kg from his previous victory due to Brendon McCoull riding. He was utterly dominant, extending his margin over Strategic Agenda ($12) and California Honey ($5.50 into $4.40) on the line despite racing outside the leader Loki Patera ($4.20 out to $4.80). Given this was only a benchmark 60 the winner will be hard to beat up in grade getting some weight relief provided he can maintain this form which has generally been the challenge through his career.
FORMPLUS Black Book
Reann’s Diamond – Putting a 9YO into the Black Book is a little different but this was a nice return. The mare loves it soft so the wetter the better for her and I suspect trainer Leon Laskey has something picked out, potentially even at his home track of Longford.
Watch the replay of Paion winning a BM66 with Reann’s Diamond sticking on for fourth.