In Brief
- Thunberg starting to realise her potential.
- Galenus makes amends for shock loss.
- Another four winners gives premier trainer brilliant strike rate from past five meetings.
PREMIER trainer Scott Brunton snared both feature races on the nine-event card in Launceston on Friday night with Thunberg and Galenus winning the $50,000 Tasbred 3YO and $50,000 Tasbred 4YO feature, respectively.
Thunberg (David Pires) was urged from a wide gate to lead and once settled she always had her opposition covered, giving punters who backed the filly in to start the $1.75 favourite, no cause for alarm.
Pires called on the daughter of Squamosa to extend turning for home and she responded magnificently to go on and win comfortably from Gee Gee Josie ($4.20) with Kohima ($21) third, just ahead of Freelancer. ($3.30)
“We’ve taken our time with this filly and now she’s starting to realize the potential she showed us early on,” Brunton said.
Brunton said he would more than likely map out a plan to stick to sprint events for the filly, although her rider Pires believes she could excel at 1400m, if given the opportunity.
Galenus suffered a shock loss in Hobart at his first start this campaign (October 4) when second to Red Letter Lady when sent around the $1.30 favourite.
But as he did aboard Thunberg, Pires fired Galenus f($1.95) from the gates and once in front he settled superbly and he went on to win easily from Artuso ($31) that enjoyed the run of the race on the leader’s back, with Red Letter Lady ($7) third.
Galenus (David Pires) wins the 4YO Tasbred $50,000 feature.
The gelded son of Magnus is lightly raced, having started only six times for four wins and two minor placings and $126,000 in stakes.
Earlier this year speculation was rife of offers of up to $600,000 for Galenus but the sale was never brokered.
In the meantime, Brunton is keeping his long-range plans for Galenus close to his chest.
Brunton ended the night with four winners on the nine-race card to take his haul from the last five meetings to 18 for a winning strike rate of close to 40 per cent from races contested.
His other winners were Jeremiah ($2.30) that scored a last-stride win over stablemate Sir Simon ($1.90 fav) in a benchmark 74 handicap over 1400m and his in-form mare Runaway Girl made it three wins in succession when she blitzed her rivals in a benchmark 66 handicap over 1600m.
Watch Galenus score an emphatic win in the $50,000 Tasbred feature over 1200m in Launceston: