Racing was in Hobart on Sunday with an 8 race card showcasing a few horses still going strong out of the recent carnival and they came to the fore on a day featuring slower than normal times considering the Good 4 surface. Bill Ryan took home a winning double while Raquel Clark rode a double herself to make ground in the jockey’s premiership – now led by Brendon McCoull after his win on Sh’bourne Spirit.
Race 1 12:56pm Bill Holmes OAM Memorial 3YO Maiden Plate (1100m)
Marmalady broke through for a narrow but deserving maiden win here. Steph Thornton used a lot of petrol to get across from the wide alley to lead at a good clip before putting the brakes on to steal a breather around the bend. When challenged in the straight she was able to kick on and finished off in the 4th fastest last 200m of the meeting which was a good effort considering the amount she backed off from the 800m mark. The overall time was ok on a day of slower times so with her early speed and the fact that she tries means she can be competitive in suitable C1 events.
Fill Ya Boots was a firm favourite ($2.20) and was probably a little unlucky not to get the money. Darmanin was keen to have a look from the inside gate but eventually handed up to Marmalady, who then slowed up in front and took away his momentum. When Fill Ya Boots was able to get across heels into the clear in the straight she ran home in the 2nd fastest last 200m of the day but was just unable to pick up the leader. A win is not far away for her. Marbel Duke was honest in 3rd but had every chance, while Sunday School made ground from back in the field in another honest run for 4th.
Race 2 1:34pm Primrose Sands RSL Maiden Plate (1200m)
Invoice broke through first up here thanks to a positive Raquel Clark ride. Despite not travelling overly strongly early Clark kept at her mount to drive through to sit outside the lead when turned out to be the gun spot when the pace went out of the race through the middle stages. She got going earlier than the rest to take over on turning and held enough in hand in the run to the line. The overall time was very slow so it doesn’t look a good form race moving forward but connections would not doubt have enjoyed the maiden victory.
O’Loughlin was heavily backed ($2.20 to $1.75) but had to race 3 wide outside the speed and that extra ground was probably the difference between winning and losing. Still only his second start, there is scope for further improvement but he won’t be going around this price again in a hurry. Scrutineer was a nice run from last to run 3rd and does look the most promising horse to come out of this race. She is a work in progress and will get a bit of ground but there’s definitely something there to work with. Of the rest, Christopher Mac showed a little on debut but overall it was a weak standard of maiden.
Race 3 2:09pm Launceston RSL Centenary Maiden Plate (1400m)
Kelly’s Diva was well supported ($9 to $7) and got the money here courtesy of a beautiful front-running ride by Raquel Clark. She was able to dictate terms at a very comfortable tempo and then booted away on turning, building a winning lead in the straight which her rivals couldn’t reel in. The overall time was very slow and the fact she could sprint home in the 10th fastest last 400m of the day made it impossible for anything back in the field to run her down. How far she can go from here is a query but she can make her luck and will never be forgotten as Nicole Luttrell’s first winner as a trainer.
Matiano was an excellent effort in 2nd, running home in the fastest last 400m of the meeting but never threatening the winner. He covered ground for much of the race also after settling back off the speed, but in hindsight may have been better pushing on from his outside draw to settle closer to the lead. He’s crying out to win a race and up to a mile would be well within his grasp also. Gallow Gate was sent out a $3.20 favourite but after enjoying a good run he was no match for the first 2, while Island Tiger ran home as she always does but was never a winning chance. Speed Force had admirers after his Magic Millions run but was very easy in betting ($4.80 to $9.50) and never got into the race at any stage in what was a very plain run.
Race 4 2:46pm Circular Head RSL Maiden/Class 1 Plate (2100m)
Savrajette has been threatening to win a race this prep and she finally put it all together here. Supported from $10 to $7 in betting, this was another example of an aggressive ride getting the prize as Darmanin was very keen to put her into the race early and she enjoyed a good run behind the leader. Saving ground through on the inside when the leader put up the white flag a long way from home, she was as strong as most to the line and did enough to break through for her second win. Up in grade now off this win will cause some difficulties as this was a pretty plain event but as she continues learning how to relax she can be competitive in BM62 staying events.
Coin Toss has been running on in most of his races and enjoyed the return to 2100m to work home into 2nd placing. Steven’s Wonder had to do a bit of work mid-race to get up to the leaders and that combined with the break he had before this run told in the latter stages as he weakened into 3rd. Favourite Polizei was disappointing at his first try over this trip and while he will derive benefit from the experience, he may be better placed back to a mile.
Race 5 3:20pm Beaconsfield RSL Class 1 Handicap (1100m)
Jazzy’s Choice came in with all the right form and punters agreed, backing her from $2.45 to start a $2.10 favourite. She was ridden a treat by improving apprentice Hayley McCarthy, positioning her just behind the speed before being able to push out underneath the horse outside the leader on turning to sprint to the lead and hold her advantage strongly to the line. She has recently proven herself to be a filly with a future and will feature in much better races than this before her career is done.
Le Bel Opera ran yet another 2nd here but again just seemed to run into a better one on the day. He was perfectly ridden by Darmanin who settled him closer to the speed than he usually races but it didn’t affect his finishing burst as he gave the favourite a race all the way down the straight. No disgrace being beaten by her and surely his chance is just around the corner. Udayan ran home reasonably into 3rd but wasn’t ever a threat to the first 2, while Southpaw caught the eye late after missing the start and ran the 2nd fastest last 600m of the meeting. No surprise to see a number of the on-pacers knock right up here at the finish as this was run at one of the strongest tempos of the day.
Race 6 3:56pm RSL Life Members Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m)
Issawi was heavily backed to start a $1.75 favourite here and did the job as you would expect, racing away in the straight to win by nearly 2 lengths. David Pires handled him well here as the speed was on early but he was able to work up outside the leader when the pace slackened somewhat which is a spot the horse loves to be and from there he made the race a one act affair. Overall time was very good on a day producing slow times and he ran the fastest last 800m and 600m splits of the day. He’s flying and can be competitive in just about anything at this time of year.
Manchero returned to a bit of form with a good second after racing just behind the speed and matched motors with Issawi somewhat with the 2nd fastest last 800m of the program, finishing just ahead of Flying Flo Jo who ran another good race on the speed. Bella Venus was a little disappointing being easily handled back in 4th position, while King Of Finland was quite good making his run wide around the field and finishing off in the 4th fastest last 400m of the meeting. The fast tempo and good overall time means horses competing here should take good fitness into their next run and the form should prove reasonably strong as we head into the autumn.
Race 7 4:42pm RSL Centenary Cup (1400m)
Sh’bourne Spirit may have been a very easy favourite in betting ($2.15 out to $3.60) but recorded the most dominant of victories here, racing away in the straight to win by over 5 lengths. She was given a perfect ride by McCoull who summed up the speed early and elected to sit just behind it, and when they hit the 200m mark there was only one horse still full of running. This backs up her strong Vamos effort and with Bill Ryan eyeing off Autumn features she will only have to maintain this level to be most competitive.
That said, the overall time here was only average with not much to say for the beaten brigade who have all run to much higher levels than they did here. Hyperbole ran home fairly well into 2nd in front of an improved Quest Master who had blinkers on, while Streetwise Savoire was flat and only ground away in 4th. Perplexing made up some ground but was never ever in the race, while the on-pacers Bideford ($6 to $3.70) and Miss Elsa ($126 to $31) were both well backed but barely got to the turn. The winner was a class above but with very basic times recorded and a number of those behind her having been up a long time, the strength of this form is a bit of a mystery.
Race 8 5:17pm Hobart RSL Centenary Class 2 Handicap (1400m)
Reann’s Diamond was in the wars en route to the course, with a pre-race vet inspection revealing a minor laceration to her off-fore leg and a minor cut above her eye, but that didn’t stop her from producing her best run in the state to score her first victory for Leon Laskey. She had to earn her win too, racing 3 wide throughout albeit on a slow tempo for young apprentice Lucinda Doodt. It was a patient ride by Doodt, who allowed her to work forward under her own steam on a slow tempo and it paid off as she was able to keep kicking in the straight to hold off some well-performed mares. When quizzed by the stewards about her improvement, Laskey stated he had increased her work-load, and the result was no surprise to some punters with the mare firming in betting from $101 to $31.
Village Green ran another solid race to run 2nd and is firmly knocking on the door, while Magnacash was a very good effort running on from back in the field after covering plenty of ground in the run. Gloray was a big drifter in betting ($2.60 to $4.40) but ran alright, making her run up the inside where the ground was probably inferior late in the day. Two runners from the Tegan Keys stable were well supported – King Manu ($18 to $8) ran on well from back in the field at his first Tasmanian run but was too far back in the run to ever look a winning hope, while Red Sun Rising was $8 to $5.50 but was very plain after racing outside the leader on a slow tempo.