Racing at Launceston on Wednesday night was again run on an excellent surface which was upgraded to Good 4 after race 1 and gave all horses their chance. The races were dominated by a select few with Brendan McShane training a very impressive treble, while father and son Michael and Adam Trinder trained doubles of their own. Bulent Muhcu rode four winners in a fantastic night’s work dampened only by a 2 meeting suspension he received in race 8, while Kim Moore also had a night out with a treble.
Race 1 5:54pm Autobarn 2yo Maiden (1100m)
Hot Dipped was sent out the favourite at $2.70 and lived up to that tag with a very impressive win. She was awkwardly away but quickly found a decent position midfield before making her run wide to take over the running on turning and racing away to score by a big space. She ran the fastest 800m of the meeting which shows she has plenty of talent, and returned the 2nd best figures of any 2yo this season, obviously behind Gee Gee Double Dee. She’s a well bred filly with plenty of scope and she looks to have a tremendous future.
Mariah’s Magic was a nice run from back in the field to run 2nd and looks a filly with plenty of improvement to come after racing greenly throughout. She didn’t get near the winner but beat the rest comfortably. I Love This Bar battled on for 3rd but was well behind the leader and the first two home are clearly the ones to follow from this event.
Race 2 6:25pm Tas Hotel & Club Supplies Class 1 Handicap (1400m)
Claiborne King returned from a disappointing effort in the Tasmanian Guineas to put in a very strong effort here to win in C1 company. Ridden a treat by Kim Moore, he was able to pinch runs through on the inside and come off heels to chase the leaders down late. He ran top 9 splits for the meeting from the 800m home and looks capable in better races considering this was a strong C1.
Sphero was very good when breaking his maiden status last time and again was excellent here. He drifted back into a very awkward spot before making a huge run late to just miss. He ran clearly the fastest last 600m/400m/200m splits of the meeting and should be well fancied next time out in this grade. Ariconte led at a very muddling tempo but had no answer when the pressure went on around bend and had to settle for 3rd, while Genuine Art was an encouraging run in 4th including 2nd best splits from the 600m mark home. Rougeau wasn’t far away either at his first try at 1400m in this state and the top 5 here are all worth following in future.
Race 3 7:05pm Weeding Hire Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m)
Livermore ($5 to $3.60) made a big leap to BM72 grade following a C1 win last time and did it with aplomb, winning by over a length in good time. He settled well back behind a very fast tempo set by Dillon Hall and made a sustained run around the field from the 800m, looking the winner a long way from home. He’s made a considerable leap as a 4yo and all of a sudden looks one of the state’s most promising stayers, heading to the Night Cup next start with the Launceston Cup now a realistic option at the end of the carnival. The Cup is probably a year too soon to consider him a genuine winning hope but the race has fallen away in the past so you never know what can happen once you get there.
Cheers Chappy also ran the best race of his career, making up a lot of ground from well back to run into 2nd. He ran a very fast 22.68 from the 800m to the 400m so his effort to still break 12 seconds for his last 200m after doing all that work was excellent and he continues to improve since his change of tactics to ride him cold. Geegees Baritone was no match for the first two but ran alright with his big weight into 3rd, while Treasury Bond chased the speed but couldn’t go on in the straight to run 4th.
Race 4 7:40pm Balmoral on York 3yo Maiden (1200m)
Polly’s Choice notched up a win on debut here thanks to a clever front-running ride by Kim Moore. After finding the lead comfortably she was able to back the tempo right off mid-race without being attacked by any of her rivals before scooting away around the bend and just lasting to score. The overall time was slow no doubt due to the steady tempo so it may not be a great form reference moving forward but the winner at least has plenty of speed which is a decent starting point.
Gallow Gate was a well-backed favourite ($2.70 to $2.20) and was given every chance by Thornton but he couldn’t stay with the leader on turning and the 7th fastest last 400m of the night wasn’t enough to run her down. Princess Of York made good ground from back in the field in an unsuitably run race to run a close 3rd, courtesy of the 3rd best last 400m and 200m sectionals of the night. Union Boss also ran home in top 10 splits from the 400m mark for 4th, while Fill Ya Boots was disappointing after racing outside the moderate tempo but failing to finish off in running 5th.
Race 5 8:20pm TOLL Tasmania Maiden (1200m)
Greenmount Lass ran well enough on debut to be supported from $6.50 to $4.80 here and she was able to overcome a very slow tempo to run home out wide and get the money narrowly. Running top 9 splits home from the 600m she was able to pick up some ground while the pace was still soft down the side and ran home well when angling into clear running on turning. She looks a mare capable of running further so while the very slow overall time casts doubt over the strength of this race, she looks to have scope at only her second race start.
A Choice Scotch held the inside to lead at a very slow tempo and was still held together approaching the 400m before slipping away on turning but she was just grabbed late. Being bred to run further like she is it is a bit surprising Pires hasn’t allowed her to stride along a bit more in front rather than turning her races into a sprint home but if he got it wrong it was only very narrowly with a head being the beaten margin. Off The Grid ran a much better race back to a sprinting trip ridden cold early and she ran home nicely with top 8 splits from the 600m mark. Well supported runner George’s Gambol was trapped 4 wide outside the slow lead time for much of the race and raced greenly in the straight so his run can be somewhat forgiven, but in hindsight Thornton may have been better suited running to the lead.
Race 6 9:05pm Jansz Maiden (1400m)
Aussie Alice was long overdue to break her duck and finally did so here by the narrowest possible margin. She had to do it tough by circling the field but the slow tempo in front suited her in a way as she was able to get her momentum up on turning and sprinted home over the top of them late. The overall time was very slow so she probably didn’t prove anything more here than we already knew of her but she may gain confidence from the win and remains suited in the 1600m Maiden/Class 1 races.
Songs ‘N’ Stories was ridden a treat by Damien Thornton and only just went under, confirming that his best distance range remains 1200m-1400m and he finds the mile a bit far. British continues to improve with a close up 3rd, while Hell Baby again ran on well into 4th and is now looking for a mile. The slow overall time does leave a question mark over the strength of this form, however.
Race 7 9:35pm Chris Reissig Builders Pty Ltd Benchmark 82 Handicap (2100m)
Hugo was a super run in the Devonport Cup and he maintained that form here with a strong win. He was caught 3 wide early and over raced a bit before slotting in and then made a sharp move down the side to be challenging on turning so his win was full of merit. He may be just below the top line stayers but heads to the Hobart Cup now deserving of a place in the field and is still on the up.
Oerter ran a much improved race in 2nd, putting in his challenge down the side and fighting on gamely in the straight. He has been steadily improving all prep and should continue to race well in these staying events below the top level. Smoke ‘N’ Whisky was well supported ($10 to $7) and ran another good race at only his second try at the trip. His prep has been excellent without winning and he continues to knock on the door. Settler’s Stone did enough from back in the field and Windell was quite a good effort running on for 5th despite racing way out of his grade.
Race 8 10:05pm Venarchie Contracting Class 2 Handicap (1200m)
Madame George took advantage of a comfortable lead here to return to the winner’s circle. Some punters were awake to her likely good run in front, backing her from $4.80 to $4, and when she was able to run her last 800m in the 6th fastest time of the night those behind had little chance to run her down. Overall time was only fair, even considering her cushy lead time, so it looks a case of the filly finding a suitable race more so than any great improvement. She is a nice filly though and the confidence will do her good.
Trot On Candy finished off very nicely with the 3rd best last 800m and 600m sectionals of the meeting and clearly the best close of the race. She is a mare who can run time and will be well suited in races of high pressure. Auntie Beverley had every chance after racing just off the leader, while Village Green wasn’t a bad effort first up and made good ground late.
Race 9 10:35pm Steve’s Liquor Maiden/Class 1 (2100m)
Kompressor staged a major form reversal from his last-placed finish at his most previous start to score a narrow yet impressive win. Despite getting well back in a slowly run race, he was able to take ground off the leaders down the side and finished off with clearly the fastest last 400m of the race. This was his first win over the trip since arriving in Tasmania and while his inconsistency makes him a hard horse to catch he is a genuine stayer and and capable on his day.
Shlingas backed up his solid Devonport run with another good run here and he should remain very competitive in this grade as he searches for his first win since December ‘13. So Much Fun appreciated the rise in distance to run 3rd, ahead of the well-backed Storm Gust ($5.50 to $3.80) who didn’t finish off at his first try at this trip. Squire can be forgiven after being held up down the side and he’s going well enough to take advantage of any wet tracks which may come his way.