Sunday’s meeting marked the return to racing at Hobart and it was much to the delight of last season’s leading trainer Scott Brunton, who took big numbers to the track and went home with four winners. Apprentice Shiralee Maher won’t forget the meeting in a hurry either, booting home her first winner since her return to race riding.
Race 1 12:24pm Swinging Bachelor Maiden Plate (1200m)
This looked a thin maiden on exposed form and that’s how it played out, with the three top fancies in betting fighting out the finish. Mikayla’s Raider was well supported to start the $3.50 favourite and he finally broke through thanks to an excellent ride from Maher. Geegees Gran Lodge was also well backed, starting $4.80 after as much as $8.00 was bet. He was the run of the race, jumping well but drifting back as Siggy Carr attempted in vain to slot in. He was never better than four wide and that told in the end as he just died on his run to finish second. Gee Gees Cool Gal was given every chance by Victor Wong to run a close up third. Not much to highlight from the beaten brigade in what looks to be the weaker of the 1200m maidens on the card.
Race 2 12:59pm NJT Thanks TRC Maiden Plate (1200m)
A stronger tempo meant this race returned better figures than the first, with the two favourites fighting out the finish – literally. O’Rayo was a short priced favourite early in betting but strong support for Bushranger Boy saw them start just about equal favourites. On the track, O’Rayo stuck his head out on the line to get the prize but had to survive a protest from Bushranger Boy to keep the race. Some sharp thinking by Brendon McCoull no doubt won the race here for O’Rayo, shifting ground inwards to keep Bushranger Boy in a pocket for just long enough to claim the win. Hidden Forever showed why the money came for her at Devonport with a good run for 3rd, while the roughie Foxtrots made good ground from the back of the field and was the eye catching run of the race. Shorty Knox was heavily backed from as high as $17 on race morning to start $5.50 but was never a chance and finished a well beaten 7th.
Race 3 1:35pm GeeGee Horse Stud Maiden Plate (1400m)
Ruby Heart had her first run for the Adam Trinder stable here and was the subject of a sensational betting plunge, shortening from $21 on race morning (with as high as $51 being bet Saturday night) to start the $4.40 favourite. Things looked ominous for the bookies when she bounced straight to the front, however she disappointed in the straight to run 7th. Littlerayov produced a barnstorming finish to score, charging home in the 4th fastest last 200m of the day to get up on the line. Pretoria Miss defied a big betting drift to run a promising 2nd at her debut aided by an excellent Bulent Muhcu ride. Third placegetter Olly’s A Star dashed for home on straightening but ducked down to the fence late in the race, which may have proven costly with the inside to prove inferior as the meeting went on.
Race 4 2.11pm Ubet Maiden/Class 1 Plate (2100m)
Punters once again settled on Dhanraj here, who started a warm $3.40 favourite, but he again found one better in Accounted Four, who was the first of Scott Brunton’s four winners. Aided by a wonderfully judged ride by Damien Thornton who got him out and rolling approaching the turn, Accounted Four relished his first try at 2100m and won decisively in a manner which suggests he may be a stayer with a future. Dhanraj again lost no admirers in running second at his first try at the trip, and a break through win is surely close. Cheryl’s Horse was a very credible third, being the best of the on pacers after sitting outside the leader on a solid tempo. Hard to make any excuses for the beaten brigade, with the second favourite Lanilew electing to take the sit but making no impression at her first try over the 2100m.
Race 5 2:50pm CGU See It Through Benchmark 72 (2100m)
The longest price winner of the day saluted here with maiden galloper Our Winston causing a major boilover coming from last to beat a field of seasoned stayers. A masterful training effort from Bill Ryan, who elected to bypass the Maiden/C1 staying event in favour of this benchmark race off the limit weight. Most punters didn’t see it coming, but there was a trickle of money on the Tattsbet fixed odds, shortening from $71 into $41 late in betting. Musique Player and Willow The Wisp ran honest races but it’s hard to give any sort of push for the beaten brigade considering they were knocked off by a horse who had never placed in 6 tries. Race favourite Spotluck was very easy in betting and raced accordingly with a flat 4th, which became a disqualification after Raquel Clark weighed in light.
Race 6 3:28pm Tasmanian Wakeful Club C1 (1100m)
Newcomer to the state Luxembourg impressed here with one of the wins of the day. Perfectly ridden by Kelvin Sanderson, he tracked the speed before coming wide in the straight to win convincingly. He ran the 2nd fastest last 800, 600, 400 and 200m of the meeting and looks capable of racing through his classes. Duran and Lord Farquaad both ran well in the right part of the track behind the winner, and Debauche might prove one to follow after she rocketed home from back in the field with clearly the fastest last sectionals of the meeting. Article was the big disappointment in the race, blowing her chances at the start and never looking likely from then on.
Race 7 4.03pm National Jockeys Trust C4 (1100m)
Since 26th April 2014, Gee Gees Style has managed to run 12 placings without winning, but he broke through here with his most impressive performance since his 2yo season. Now a veteran of 46 starts, it’s difficult to expect him to raise his level further from here, but he is very consistent and who knows what this win may do for his confidence. No doubt he attacked the line stronger than we have become accustomed to seeing. Triple Bee continued his good form running into 2nd while Wonzzee stuck on for 3rd closer to the inside. Issawi showed enough at his first run in the state to say he can pick up races down here, while backmarkers Erin’s Element and Varian found the task too hard despite running top 10 last 800s for the meeting.
Race 8 4.40pm Lucrf Super Benchmark 82 (1400m)
A great effort here from Scott Brunton and Tegan Keys here, who combined to have 6 of the 10 runners and filled the first 6 placings. Perplexing was Scott Brunton’s third winner for the day and was heavily backed in doing so, firming from $12 available in the morning to start $4.80. Perhaps punters predicted the fast tempo that was set by Makes Cents and Jay Bee’s Gee Gee, with Perplexing and Chi Gong filling the quinella after being last and second last on turning. Maybe that flattered the efforts of the two mares, especially considering the better ground was also out wide by this stage of the day, but they dominated the finish and have both shown enough promise to say they can race their way into some better races. Clan Mcleod was game in running 3rd and is cherry ripe – if she can find a soft track she’s ready to win.
Race 9 5.20pm Moshe @ Eliza Park International Handicap C2 (1400m)
They came from everywhere in the last race, with Flying Cruiser justifying the strong betting support he received for a breathtaking last stride win. Backed in from $4.20 to start the $3.40 favourite, punters tagged him as the swooper on a track clearly favouring the wide runners in the straight and despite some anxious moments they were duly rewarded. While obviously well suited by the tempo and pattern here he does look a horse who can race through to higher grades. The Welshman and Arkadashim set up a strong tempo which left them vulnerable to the backmarkers and it was no surprise to see the first 5 home all come right down the outside to swamp them in the straight. Polizei ran another very good race and is really knocking on the door, while Zabibo belied his $61 quote with strong finish of his own to finish a close up 3rd. Ocean Star and Milson were also close up behind the placegetters and lost no admirers, while Helluce copped a nasty check at the top of the straight and can be forgiven for not finishing off from there on.