Heats of the UBET Tasmanian Country Oaks and Rapidvite Tasmanian Country Derby were run yesterday at the Devonport Showgrounds and apart from a couple of the Medhurst runners not making either Final the script went according to plan.
Wynburn Toozie for Burnie’s Ben Englund kicked off the heats for the girls running 25.96 but don’t let the time fool you this daughter of Where’s Pedro was in all sorts of trouble early before scooting right around the field to win running away by 5 ¾ lengths from Runout Babe and a further 3 ¾ lengths away third Capetown Jinx.
Fifteen Two was the first into the Derby Final with a strong neck victory over Wynburn Archer in 25.76. Trained at Newnham by Jacko Hammersley the syndicate boys would be shouting as this son of Thirteen Black won his fifth race from sixteen starts and will be hard to hold out in next week’s final. A further neck behind was leader Grouse who continues to race consistently and with a better box draw may have opened up a bigger break.
Droopy’s Jacket jumped from the red in the second heat of the Oaks and led all the way setting splits of 7.95 and 12.74. Trained at Ged Mace at Sheffield she loves the Devonport track and punters weren’t afraid to send her out an odds on favourite. Cosmic Heir for Pat Ryan got to within a neck of her on the line for second while Hello Nancy for Shirley Sutcliffe ran third a further 11/4 lengths back.
Wynburn Hornet again for the Englund kennel used his box to perfection leading all the way in the last heat of the Derby. Recording splits of 8 07 and 12 86 he held off Keep Ya Stripes at bay by two lengths at the line with Tax Man Wins qualifying for the Final a further ¾ length away third.
Box Draws for next week’s Finals:
Derby:
- 1 Wynburn Archer
- 2 Celtic Kid
- 3 Tax Man Wins
- 4 Keep Ya Stripes
- 5 Droopy’s Dasher
- 6 Fifteen Two
- 7 Wynburn Hornet
- 8 Grouse
- Reserves Buckle Up Spitz, Buckle Up Labi
Oaks:
- 1 Quiet Bay
- 2 Capetown Jinx
- 3 Cosmic Heir
- 4 Droopy’ Jacket
- 5 Shadea Kahn
- 6 Hello Nancy
- 7 Wynburn Toozie
- 8 Runout Babe
- Reserves: Fabulous Gem, Banquet.
Story and photo by Peter Hayes