Tasracing

Tasmania’s two outstanding 3yo fillies, Geegees Mistruth and Ms Tasmania will clash for just the second time in the $150,000 Group 3 Kevin Sharkie Mystic Journey Stakes (1200m) in Hobart this Friday, the first of two feature race days this weekend.

The pair hasn’t met since both were having their first race starts in November 2023 in Hobart. Geegees Mistruth won on that occasion with Ms Tasmania third.

Since then, the two have gone their separate ways, Geegees Mistruth proving to be competitive at Group level in Melbourne with three placings from five runs, while Ms Tasmania stayed home and won her next five races.

Ms Tasmania rounded out her prep for the Mystic Journey with an impressive win in Launceston on 19 January.

“She is really well; she had a nice stretch on the grass in Hobart on Tuesday. It’s the happiest I’ve been with her post her last run,” trainer Siggy Carr said.

Carr is also delighted with the barrier, drawing gate four.

Geegees Mistruth hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on 16 November but looked very sharp in a Hobart trial on 21 January, scoring effortlessly and cruising home the last 600m in 34.44 seconds untouched.

“She trialled nicely, and she has been working nicely, happy with how she looks and her attitude,” trainer Stuart Gandy said.

“She’s a great galloper. She came back in good order from the mainland, where she ran some ripping races against some good horses. Probably drawn a little bit sticky (gate 10), but I’m sure she will be running home really strongly.”

Geegees Mistruth has been well-supported in early markets from $3.60 to $3 favourite, with Ms Tasmania on the second line at $4, in from $6.

Tasmanian Derby

Tasmanian 3yo Likeakalix has been installed as the favourite for the Listed $150,000 Graham Family Funerals Tasmanian Derby (2200m) in Hobart on Friday.

The Leanne Gaffney-trained galloper could not have been more impressive in the Launceston Guineas (2100m) on 24 January, scoring by more than four lengths.

Likeakalix has raced only six times but has won three and been placed in the other three.

Likeakalix (D.Pires) wins the 2025 Launceston Guineas.

Gaffney said the horse should get every chance from barrier two in the small field of six and has no concerns with Likeakalix stepping out in Hobart for the first time.

Likeakalix opened the $2.00 favourite for the Derby with Victorians Track Patcher from the Hayes stable at $4.60, and the Thomas Carbery-trained Kicking King at $4.80. The only filly in the field Moorlands Miss is rated a $5 chance.

“I really think she will run a nice race,” her trainer Glenn Stevenson said.

“She actually galloped with Ashy Boy the other day, and I was pretty impressed with her work.”

Derby Day is a twilight meeting, with the first set down for 15:12, a change from the original time of 14:52.