Heats of the Adam Brooks Group Granny Smith (mares) and the Maxfield Drilling Raider Stakes (entires and geldings) were decided at Devonport on Monday night. There were no surprises in the mares section when Miley Rose and Faithful Gabby were easy heat winners and they will dominate the betting in the $30,000 final at Devonport on 26 April. The qualifiers from the heats were Angel Or Demon, Faithful Gabby, Jane Grant, Jazzy Jane, La Ebony Kita, Lucky Libby (Emergency), Miley Rose, Miss Guenevere, Mustang Minty, Pharoahs Wrath, Really Feisty.
The male heats were more competitive. Le Premiere ($4.40 – Gareth Rattray) caused a minor boilover in the first when he led and held on to defeat Resurgent Spirit ($1.70 fav – James Austin). Le Premiere is trained at Brighton by Brad Walters and created a big impression winning races at Yarra Valley and Ballarat in August/September 2014 and the win on Monday night indicates the 4YO gelding is back to his best.
The other heat went to Vande Velde for Brighton trainer/driver Christian Salter who drove patiently in a race where there was a hot tempo. Salter waited until the 400 metre mark to ease three wide and Vande Velde got the better of the leaders before holding off the fast finishing Chirac (Gareth Rattray). The mile rate of 2:00.0 for 2297 metres was just outside Hugo Play’s track record of 1:59.3. The $30,000 final is looming as a race with many genuine winning chances. The qualifiers are Artarama, Cardinal Spec, Chirac, Chopstix Boris, Estevao (Emergency), Karalta Dazzler, Last Guy Standing, Le Premiere, Le Wi Bulent, Resurgent Spirit and Vande Velde.
Legenda ($4.50) and Blues Ace ($21.70) both registered their first race win. Legenda (Taylor Ford) led throughout to win the Hardings Hotmix Pace for the maidens. Brighton trainer Nathan Ford has improved the 5YO mare who was second first up for Ford before the win on Monday night. At 39 prior starts, Legenda had one second and nine thirds including placings behind handy horses such as Carly Seelster, Regal Idea and Anothermetro.
Blues Ace is trained and driven by Brett Jaffray. The 3YO gelding’s best effort at three race starts was a seven metre fourth to Le Wi Bulent at Carrick in January. On Monday night, Jaffray found the spot behind the leader, Inner City, and after easing three wide at the 300 metre mark, overhauled the gallant Acey Boy (Mark Yole) right on the line to win narrowly.
Leading driver Gareth Rattray finished with a treble and two, Neonjet and Faithful Gabby are trained by his partner Melissa Maine. Le Premiere was the other winner for Rattray. With three winners over the weekend, Maine is now a clear second in the trainer’s premiership and only four wins behind Barrie Rattray in what is shaping as an intriguing contest. Barrie Rattray has 26 wins followed by Maine (22), Nathan Ford (20), Juanita McKenzie (20), Rohan Hillier (20), Zeke Slater (19) and Christian Salter (18).