In Hobart tonight the highlight will be five heats of the Dennis Collis Memorial to be run over 461 metres.
Won last year by the Sue Gittus-trained Wheel’s Up in stylish fashion, this year’s series has assembled a strong crop of fifth grade sprinters, each vying for a spot in next week’s final.
Below is a preview each of the heats ahead of the Thursday night program.
BOUND FOR BLUE will start a warm favourite for the opening heat following her dashing all-the-way last start Devonport win in 25.60. Blessed with terrific speed, the daughter of Bekim Bale is yet to produce her absolute best at Hobart but from the wide draw tonight in suitable grade should prove hard to catch. TONE DEAF comes into the race with terrific claims, unbeaten in three Hobart starts and gets the benefit of box one while DEFINITE SIGNS is one for the exotics, look for him to be getting home hard late.
Much of the second heat revolves around what MACCA SENOR does early from his box one draw. Failed to fire off this trip and draw last week but before that was in sensational form with short-course wins at Launceston and here at Hobart. VEIL FALLS brings solid form into this, including a last start Devonport success and should get room to move early from the draw. MY DESIREE finished runner-up to Ned Isakoff at Launceston on Monday night and he’d go around rock bottom odds in this.
Terrific betting heat with four of the eight runners given legitimate winning chances. Expect LEISHMAN to produce a forward performance from box two for Sonia Martin. Has the speed to be prominent early and like the way he’s been progressing. FERNIE has placed at three of her five Hobart 461-metre starts and has been racing well at Launceston of late while MANNERS MATTER has had five Hobart starts for a win and four seconds. Very competitive heat.
WHISKEY RIVER draws the pink for this heat and that will be enough to see this Debbie Cannan-trained youngster go around in the red. Displaying good ability to begin his career and whilst he’s yet to rattle the clock this race really does look at his mercy. LUCEY MAC can produce a run on his night and looks a good each-way chance while second favourite in early betting STYLISH MACBETH caught the eye finishing second at Devonport last start. Has been a while between wins though.
Betting has the final heat as an absolute race in two between WIND WAKER ($2.4) and PAGES CREEK ($1.8). WIND WAKER scored impressively at Devonport on Boxing Day and has been racing better opposition than what he meets tonight yet. Pages Creek returned with a slick win at Hobart last Thursday in 26.28. Would be surprised if the winner came away from that pair in the final heat and at a push leaning the way of WIND WAKER on what may be a big night for Eileen Thomas with a runner engaged in each of the five heats.