Brendan Pursell’s kennel at Brighton is producing an impressive one-in-four winning strike rate this year on the Hobart track and that is expected to be further improved tonight when Champagne Girl tackles the Lindisfarne Service Centre Stakes over 599 metres (race 4).
The daughter of Collision has won five of her last six starts including a 35.13 win here over this distance so to say it was her favourite track and journey would be an understatement.
She is in sizzling form and from box three she will be hard to hold out.
Whodat Lass (6) and Greysynd Merry (8) look next best.
Devonport Breeder’s Classic winner Daniel’s Bay should bounce back from his last two defeats with the prized red vest in the opening race on the 11-event card.
Daniel’s Bay (Talk’s Cheap-Wooreddy) has been an odds-on favourite at his last two when beaten but there were excuses and punters who stick with him will be looking to recoup some of their recent losses.
From the inside alley he should be able to hold the front to the top turn and if that eventuates he will be very hard to beat with Bag of Spice (3) and Blue McCool (6) his main opposition.
Brilliant speedster Hellyeah Bolt has had a short spell and is back in Anthony Bullock’s kennel for a tilt at this year’s Tattsbet Hobart Thousand.
Tonight he tackles a grade four over 461 metres and while drawn awkwardly in box five his class should see him emerge triumphant and take winning form into next week’s Hobart Thousand heats.
The Barry Heawood Hobart Thousand Prelude (race 7) has attracted a quality field with Mick Stringer’s main Hobart Thousand hope Yappin’ Jack drawn out in seven.
Yappin’ Jack was taken to Victoria to tackle a couple of races at Ballarat but nothing went right for the son of Aston Galilee so Stringer will be hoping he can bounce back into the winner’s circle on home soil.
However he will have to be at the top of his game to outgun the in-form Varcoe that is trying to make it five wins in succession.
Best Bets: R1 No 1 Daniel’s Bay, R4 No 3 Champagne Girl, R8 No 5 Hellyeah Bolt.
Best E/W: R2 No 2 Sensational Me, R3 No 7 Heliski, R9 No 2 Dominator Girl.
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