Tasracing

Premier thoroughbred trainer Scott Brunton attended the meeting in Hobart on Sunday with a heavy heart after losing his champion sprinter Hellova Street to a bout of colic over the weekend.

But preparing five winners on the eight-event card would have helped soften the blow.

The day started poorly for the stable when potential superstar Galenus was beaten in the opening race, much to the chagrin of punters who backed the gelding in from $1.50 to start the $1.35 favourite in what was expected to be a case of put in and take out.

Galenus raced to the leader Red Letter Lady 200m out and looked home but the leader found under pressure and fought back to win comfortably.

But it was all smooth sailing for the stable from there on in.

Newcomer to the stable Robben Island was heavily backed ($7 into $3.70) and had the race won a long way from home.

Robben Island (Georgie Catania) winning a maiden in Hobart.

The former Victorian mare had modest form when with David Bourne but a couple of weeks at Seven Mile Beach did wonders for the daughter of Dissident that powered her way to an impressive maiden win over 1100 metres.

First Accused proved he is a star in the making by scoring an impressive first-up win in a TasBonus 3YO event over 1100 metres.

Last season’s 2YO of the year Gee Gee Josie (Siggy Carr) led, while Georgie Catania camped First Accused ($1.45F) on her outside settling well under a firm hold.

But when Catania gave her charge more rein, he sped clear and went on to score by two lengths from Gee Gee Josie with Apollo Rocket a distant third.

First Accused only raced once last season for an impressive win and now looks set to head towards some of the feature three-year-old sprint races including the $100,000 Listed 3YO Cup in Launceston next month.

One of the most impressive of Brunton’s quintet of winners was the gallant grey Sir Simon ($2.70) that lugged a hefty 62kg but made light of the task to score an emphatic win in a benchmark 66 handicap over 1390 metres.

It was Sir Simon’s first start since mid-January when last of 11 in the Jockey Club Cup (2100m) in Hobart.

Jeremiah (Kyle Maskiell) romps home in a class 3 handicap in Hobart.

The bold free-wheeling seven-year-old led and travelled sweetly for jockey David Pires and when he asked for a bit more in the home straight he delivered and went on to win by 5.5 lengths from stablemate Sky Fox with Gee Gees Saint Nik four lengths astern.

Jeremiah has long been one of the stable’s most promising gallopers and the strength of yesterday’s impressive first-up win in a class three handicap, this could be his best season.

With heavyweight apprentice Kyle Maskiell aboard, the gelded son of God’s Own settled midfield and improved gradually from the 500m point to be in contention straightening for the run home.

Jeremiah ($1.45F) gobbled up the leaders and went on to score by 1.25 lengths from Gee Gee Pureblonde, with Vivid Dreamer a close-up third.

The stable closed the day with a first-up win from Vallabar ($2.70F) that sat outside of the leader Divisor ($7.50) for most of the 1200m trip but edged clear close to home under strong riding from Pires.

Constant rain leading up to and during the meeting forced stewards to downgrade the track twice, starting on a soft 5 and ending on a heavy 8.

Considering the conditions, the Hobart track stood up to the test and raced according to its penetrometer rating.

Watch First Accused score an impressive win in a 3YO race over 1100m.