Tasracing

An eye-catching last start second sees the Patrick Hall-trained Escalated Quick poised for victory in Launceston in race eight tonight, the Winning Edge Kibble Stakes over 515 metres.

While the countdown is on to tomorrow’s heats of the group 3 Ladbrokes Devonport Chase, a handy 10-race card has been assembled for Launceston tonight, where Escalated Quick looms as one of the better bets of the program from his box one draw.

Beaten less than a length when runner-up behind Like ‘Em All last Monday in a nippy 30.02, the son of Fabregas has been installed a warm $2.80 favourite to take out the last leg of tonight’s quaddie.

Placed at five of his eight starts at the circuit, Escalated Quick meets some handy opposition tonight, including the Joan Nichols-trained Twister Sister, runner-up at her two most recent appearances.

$2.80 equal favourite in early markets, the daughter of Buckle Up Wes finished a smart second to top bitch Peco Can two runs back in Hobart over 340 metres, while most recently she finished a narrow second to Buckle Up Nola in Launceston in 30.20.

And while the wings look set to dominate tonight’s eighth event, the Wayne Williams-trained Fernie is given a good chance also from his box two draw, the speedy son of Fernando Bale a $4.00 chance.

Earlier in the program, trainer Butch Deverell looks to have a vice-like grip on race three, the leading conditioner lining up two of the top three chances in betting.

Deverell has three runners engaged, led by promising type Inner Circle, searching for a breakthrough victory from box two.

The son of Barcia Bale is even money to land the 515-metre grade six event, with his five starts to date netting two placings.

Interestingly though, each of his five starts have been from box four or wider, and tonight from the inside trap, is expected to relish the better draw and go close to victory.

Second in betting for Deverell is rails runner Kagi Lad, the son of Cosmic Rumble making his Launceston debut off a win and a second in Devonport in dashing style.

The third of Deverell’s runners is Pair’s Six drawn box four, considered one of the more remote chances at $16.00 in early markets.

One of the better bets on tonight’s program looms in race five with Zipping Jersey clearly the one to beat from box one.

In the money at four of her six Launceston starts, the daughter of Fernando Bale caught the eye when finishing second to the flying Chief’s Empire at the track and distance last time out, fantastic form credentials for a race like this over the 278 metres.

Watch the replay of Zipping Jersey finishing second on 11 November.