FORMER Victorian four-year-old Freddie Two Shoes made a winning Tasmanian debut in Launceston on Wednesday night but caught connections off guard.
Freddie Two Shoes had been racing over much longer distances in Victoria but the way he tackled the 1200-metre event on the Launceston StrathAyr she looked quite art home over the sprint journey.
The gelding was purchased by his trainer Steve Davis who sold shares to a few friends and family members with the hope of winning a couple of middle distance races with the son of Prussian Lover.
“He had been racing over 1900 metres in Victoria so we thought tonight’s distance might be a bit too short for him,” Davis said.,
“But he had settled in well and freshened up nicely and we’ve got a great result at his first try for us,” he said.
Freddie Two Shoes was recommended to Davis by Caulfield trainer Byron Cozamanis who is a family friend.
“Byron thought he’d be a nice horse for Tasmania, and the way he won tonight, suggests he might have a few more wins in him,” he said.
It was a top ride by Kelvin Sanderson who said the gelding was travelling so well that he felt he had the race in his keeping at the half-way mark.
It was the first of two winners Sanderson but a timely double given he was celebrating his birthday.
Sanderson also guided Esspressardo to victory in the BM68 Handicap over 1600 metres.
Esspressardo came with a well-timed run in the home straight to edge out Tuktoyaktuk and Revenging in a three-way photo-finish.