TALENTED mare Los Skybo emerged as potential star of the upcoming Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival after she disposed with a quality field in a class four handicap over 1220 metres under lights at the TOTE Racing centre in Launceston last night.
With visiting Victorian non-claiming apprentice Ben Knobel aboard, Los Skybo travelled well just off the speed and when her rider eased her out three wide to challenge at the top of the straight she quickly put the end result beyond doubt.
The mare went on to score easily from the Diane Luttrell-trained Tuktoyaktuk and Miswaki Call from the Troy Blacker stable with the Leon Wells-trained Merit’s Respect a distant fourth.
Los Skybo started at $1.90 but so strong was the support for the lightly raced five-year-old at one stage in betting she was only paying $1.40.
Los Skybo is trained by the state’s reigning premier combination of David and Scott Brunton and when asked if Los Skybo was destined for bigger races Scott Brunton replied:
“This mare is a very serious racehorse and she will definitely be heading towards the two big weight-for-age fillies and mares’ races during the carnival,” Brunton said.
He was referring to the Bow Mistress, run over 1200 metres in Hobart on February 3 and the Vamos Stakes over 1400m in Launceston on February 20.
Los Skybo ventured to Melbourne last season and scored an impressive win at Moonee Valley, after which she finished unplaced at Caulfield and was later diagnosed with a virus and was sent back to Tasmania to recuperate.
Team Brunton also have Buzzing Along aimed at the Bow Mistress-Vamos double so if Los Skybo makes it to both races the stable could have a mortgage on the two most prestigious fillies and mares’ races in the state.