Tasracing

Well-bred filly Assaranca could figure prominently in some of the three-year-old feature races later this season after delivering an impressive win at only her second start in a 3YO Maiden in Devonport last Sunday.

Assaranca (Nicconi-Talulla) was purchased for $80,000 by Star Thoroughbreds at the 2019 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale and connections thought enough of her to contest the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on debut in Launceston in February.

She had no luck in that event and was immediately sent for a decent spell.

Her trial win in Devonport leading up to last Sunday’s outing was outstanding, defeating subsequent maiden winner War Correspondent and she took that form into her race.

Assaranca’s trainer Leanne Gaffney is confident the filly will be up to tackling races such as the Thousand Guineas and possibly the Tasmania Oaks.

“She is a very head-strong filly but I’m sure the more she races, the more settled she will become,” Gaffney said.

“She is a lovely free-striding filly and I believe she will excel when she gets over a bit of ground, but she also will be very capable over the sprint distances.”

Deroche and Newhart

Two of Gaffney’s more high-profile gallopers Deroche, that dominated fillies and mares’ sprint races last season, and her Devonport Cup winner Newhart, are in work and being prepared for spring and summer campaigns.

“I couldn’t be happier with Deroche and Newhart as they prepare for feature races later in the season.”

Connections are hoping to head to the major cups with Newhart while Deroche’s main targets will be the two Group 3 weight-for-age races for fillies and mares in the Bow Mistress and the Vamos Stakes.

Deroche won the $150,000 Group 3 Vamos last season as a three-year-old and she finished second in the Group 3 Bow Mistress.

Watch Assaranca score a strong win in a maiden over 1150m in Devonport last Sunday.