WHILE star Tasmanian stayer Geegees Blackflash is wandering around his paddock taking a well-earned rest from racing, his owners Paul and Elizabeth Geard are focusing on the babies of the team.
The Geards have over 25 horses in work in all regions of the state with many of them two-year-olds that are just making their way into the game.
At the TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston tonight six of the team will face the starter with three in each division of the Tasbreeders Maiden Plate over 1120 metres.
The first heat (race 1) will see Geegee’s Lover Boy and Geegees Hawkeye line up for the first time while Gee Gees Prairie is having her fifth start that is her second run back from a spell.
In heat two (race 2) the Geards will be represented by Geegee Pretty Jess, prepared by Leon Wells, the Stuart Gandy-trained Geegees Firstword and Gee Gee Black Fury that is prepared by John Luttrell at Brighton.
Geard said Geegees Hawkeye trialed well recently in Hobart and while he lacks experience he remains confident the gelded son of Wordsmith can do well on debut.
“Geegees Hawkeye has shown a lot of promise from day one and he was reasonably well held in his trial when second to Campari that is in the second division and from all reports is expected to be hard to beat,” Geard said.
“Geegee’s Lover Boy finished down the track a bit in his only trial but his trainer Peter Luttrell says he shows potential and is not without a chance in the race,” he said.
Geegee Pretty Jess has had only two starts for two minor placings and last start she flashed home for second behind the highly promising Quest Master at Devonport.
“Geegee Pretty Jess has only raced on her home track on the synthetic at Devonport so she is getting onto the turf for the first time but on exposed form I think she will still be hard to beat,” Geard said.