The last night meeting of the season was run in Launceston on Wednesday night (20 April) on a Good 4 track that produced slower than usual times. The track raced generally well, playing truly early before having the inside chop out late in the night. Trainers split the 8 winners between themselves with no one taking home multiple wins, while apprentice Sherry Barr started her night with a race-to-race double and Brendon McCoull scored a double himself.
Race 1 6:00pm Access Hardware Maiden (1200m)
Cuban Missile backed up his good first up effort with an all the way win here. Sherry Barr was able to back the speed right off down the side without being attacked which enabled the horse to sprint home the last 400m in the 12th fastest of the night making it impossible for those behind to run him down. With his racing style and fondness for softer tracks he does look to have a bit of a future.
Kirribilli Kid was well ridden by Anthony Darmanin and finished off well to run 2nd – his last 400m was the 5th fastest of the night. On that effort he can be winning a maiden sooner rather than later. Gallow Gate was very good from the back to run 3rd, highlighted by the 5th fastest last 200m of the night, while Scrutineer was very easy in betting ($3 to $4.20) and had too much to do after missing the kick and settling down last. She was never a winning hope but ran top 7 sectionals from the 800m mark home including the 2nd fastest last 200m of the night so she ran just about as well as can be expected despite her finishing position being disappointing. Still a bit to click there but she’s going to blow them away soon.
Race 2 6:35pm Fenton Doors Maiden (1600m)
Rangaondarun pinched this race from the front thanks to a well-timed ride by Sherry Barr. She wasn’t afraid to run along with a big lead while the other riders preferred to look for positions and it proved a winning move. The overall time was quite slow so the race probably doesn’t provide much information of value moving forward but connections will no doubt have enjoyed the breakthrough win at start number 26.
George’s Gambol did quite a good job to stick to his task with the sharp step up to the mile and was arguably the run of the race considering his circumstances. Impulsive Lager started a very warm $2.15 favourite but had nothing to give when Muhcu asked for the big effort and was very disappointing. He has runs on the board this prep so he can be forgiven for an ‘off one’ but the race just about stops after the placegetters from a long term perspective.
Race 3 7:10pm Jacksons Security Class 1 Handicap (1200m)
Cameo Kiss finally scored a long overdue 2nd win here thanks to what was probably ride of the night from Brendon McCoull. A noted drifter in betting ($2.50 to $3.40) which was probably due to the fact she was likely to get back in a race of little tempo, she instead landed 2nd as McCoull ensured she began well and found that spot with relatively little effort. Settling in front of her main rivals made all the difference as she took over on turning and held the challengers at bay in the straight. With wetter ground and further distance likely to suit she looks in for a good winter prep.
Alpine Angel turned in a very good effort running home from midfield to grab 2nd, and ran the 7th fastest last 200m of the night in doing so. Le Bel Opera broke his run of seven 2nds in a row with a close up 3rd after enjoying a good run but having to come through behind the winner. Must Be Love was very good in 4th, running the 3rd fastest last 200m of the meeting and if she could sort our her manners early she would be more successful. Dhanraj had every chance but didn’t finish off and may be looking for longer now.
Race 4 7:50pm Jacksons CCTV Systems Class 1 Handicap (1200m)
Miss Mai Ho was supported at longer odds here ($21 to $15) and produced a brilliant finish to win by the narrowest of margins from back in the field. She missed the boat down the side when runs were being made around her down the side and had to wait to come around heels on turning but was still able to pick up a few lengths over the last 200m to get up right on the line. Overall time was reasonable and there is no doubt she has improved when being ridden quieter over the sprint trips so expect her to be competitive in the right races in higher grade.
Blu To Be Sure looked the winner everywhere bar the line in the straight but maybe the work he had to do after being checked at the start took its toll late. He is another who is showing his best ridden quieter in sprints and is ready to win in the right race. Marmalady did a very good job to run 3rd after racing wide throughout and is another going well enough for when her time comes. Favourite Tough Missile showed a stack of speed to lead them up but tired over the concluding stages and may be better for the run and back in trip, but racing on the inside was also about to be proven very hard to do as the night went on.
Race 5 8:30pm Access Locksmiths Open Handicap (1200m)
Gee Gees Soprano was most impressive in winning here, sprinting home far too quickly for his rivals to win comfortably. He was given a beautiful run just behind the speed by Carr and came out at the right time when Streetwise Savoire looked to improve outside of him. Overall time was nothing special due to the slow tempo for this grade but he did run the 2nd fastest last 800m of the night in a sustained show of speed. Should be in for a good couple of months with the top-liners having a break.
Streetwise Savoire had to do a bit of work after being slightly slow away and the run he made 4 wide down the side seemed to just take the sting out of the big finish he possesses. He’s going ok but maybe a step below his best. Our Casanova was much better and appreciated the slower tempo to be able to race on speed, while Geegees Goldengirl gave in pretty quickly after sitting 2nd and her run reflected her market drift ($2.10 to $2.80).
Race 6 9:00pm Jacksons Patrols Class 3 Handicap (1600m)
Olly’s A Star has shown a real liking for this track and confirmed that again with a dominant victory in his first try in this grade. Toker was able to find him a beautiful position just behind the speed and he was very strong when produced in the straight to win convincingly. Punters weren’t keen to be with him, drifting $4.60 to $5.50 but he responded with one of the wins of the night and stamped himself at the Launceston track.
Milson was a very good run from a horse ideally looking for more ground, running home from well back into 2nd and he’s ticking over nicely for a 2100m event. Village Green was game in 3rd after covering a bit of extra ground in the run and isn’t far away, ahead of Reann’s Diamond and Helluce who are also going well enough for something a little more suitable.
Race 7 9:30pm Jacksons Alarms Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m)
Issawi was very firm in betting ($2.05 favourite) after a good 3rd last week behind Tshahitsi and he was never in any danger after controlling the race from the front. David Pires put in one of the rides of the night, staying away from the inside which was clearly now inferior ground and using his high cruising speed to full effect. He won by a space in the end and on the times he is capable of running he is clearly up to the next grade.
O’Reillys Geegee ran a good race at longer odds to run 2nd, as did Ash For Cash in 3rd who ran home in the 5th fastest last 800m of the night. Elegatano only just missed a place and wasn’t disgraced in his first try in this grade, while Stella Etoile reeled off the fastest last 800m of the night as she often does to finish just behind the placegetters in a pleasing return. Frolicked was disappointing on face value considering her very good fresh record but she stayed down on the inside fence which was clearly not the place to be by this time of the night and her run can be forgiven.
Race 8 10:00pm Fenton Fire Doors Class 5 Handicap (1400m)
Tshahitsi was all the rage in betting, starting the $1.60 favourite and he won just as that price suggests he should have with a dominant all the way win. Brendon McCoull was very happy to dictate from the front in a race lacking tactical speed and it would prove impossible for the rest of the field to get nearhim when he ran meeting best sectionals from the 600m mark home from in front. Still on the up, he already shapes as one of the state’s best gallopers and this win is just another notch on his way to much bigger and better things.
Speckie again ran a very good race, much as he has all preparation, but he couldn’t get near the leader despite running the 2nd fastest last 400m of the night himself. He’s going more than well enough to win the right race in the near future. By Order worked home well for 3rd just ahead of Fund Trader who was slightly disappointing again and was entitled to place given the run he had. Not much to say for the rest of the beaten brigade except that connections advised Barkly Boy will now be retired.