THE Alexandra Plate at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart tomorrow boasts s small field of six but the quality to tackle the race over 1000 metres is as good as any to have contested the time-honoured event.
The race is named in honour of the late Ross Fouracre, a former Tasmanian racing Club administrator who died recently, so there will be even more significance for the connections of the winner of this race.
Geegees Doublejay is unbeaten from two starts while the other two-year-old winner so far this season, Admiral, is back to try and make sure his record is unblemished.
Geegees Doublejay scored a comfortable win on debut in Hobart back in October and Admiral also scored an impressive win in the second division on the same program.
While trainer Barry Campbell opted to send Admiral to the spelling paddock immediately after his debut win, Brighton trainer Stuart Gandy kept his charge in work and he went on to win the next juvenile race and did so with consummate ease.
But Admiral’s time for winning on debut of 54.53 over the 900 metres was significantly quicker than Geegees Doublejay that clocked 55.38 on the same day and next time out Gandy’s youngster stopped the clock at 56.75 on a slightly slower surface.
Times are more pertinent with two-year-olds so given Admiral’s superior time he should be the favourite.
Admiral’s stablemate Lustica won her trial at Spreyton the same day as Admiral saluted in his trial and little separated the pair on times but Campbell was adamant that had Lustica not suffered a minor injury as a result of a freak mishap in her stall on the eve of what was to be her debut in Geegees Doublejay’s race she would have given the stable the 2YO double that day.
Cheers Chappy from the Tammy Mollross stable ran second to Geegees Doublejay last month and he was unlucky not to finish a lot closer so the colt by de Beers must be respected.
The interesting runner is the Graeme McCulloch-trained Valdez that is making his debut.
The colt is by Sebring from one of his home-bred mares Valmiera (by Val Royale Fr) and he is a winner of a recent trial at Devonport in which he defeated Miss Mai Ho and Flying Dami over 800 metres.
The Alexandra Plate is the first of eight races and it is scheduled to start at 11.10 am with the last, the Listed Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Stakes (1600m) to start at 3.35 pm with the entire meeting broadcast on Sky 1.