The 2012 Country Club Tasmania Newmarket Handicap over 1200m in Launceston tonight (Wednesday) was won by the sole interstate invader It’s Crunch Time.
But no sooner had the Doug Harrison-trained five-year-old crossed the line just ahead of the luckless Dream Flyer the focus turned to the horse’s Tasmanian rider Stephen Maskiell who was out to snare the record of the most number of Newmarket wins.
Maskiell and Max Baker shard the record with seven wins each and Maskiell had made no secret of the fact that one of his main ambitions was to grab the Newmarket riding record before he retires.
Maskiell chased the ride as soon as he discovered the gelding was heading to Tasmania.
“Gary White (Tasmanian trainer) let me know the horse was likely to come for the Newmarket so I did my homework on it form and then I set about trying to secure the ride and it all panned out well,” Maskiell said.
“This is the race I’ve wanted to win for a while to get the record on my own and it feels great to have finally achieved that goal.”
“H is a very nice horse and had the right form to win this race.”
“I want to thank the connections for putting me on,” he said.
It’ Crunch Time was caught three-wide but Maskiell was able to get cover most of the way on he back of Rebel Bride that was forced to race three-wide without cover for the entire race.
Dream Flyer (Ibrahim Gundogdo) was always travelling well on the inside of It’s Crunch Timer but when Maskiell eased out to make his run Gundogdo elected to hold his line and search for inside runs in the straight.
The Troy Blacker-trained gelding was held up momentarily when Rebel Bride shifted in slightly and that was enough to cost him the ace.
Punctuate led and the David and Scott Brinton-trained gelding was game at the business end of the race to hold onto third spot ahead of his stablemate Galibier with Catwen Boy rattling home from well back in the field and was definitely a member of the unlucky brigade.
It’ Crunch Time is Harrison’s first runner in Launceston but he might keep the gelding in the state for a crack at a couple of the upcoming weight-for-age races over 1200m and 1400m.
Last year’s winner Geegees Blackflash enjoyed a cozy run in the race. Peter Mertens had the John Luttrell-trained gelding placed fifth and in the one-out line to the home turn.
When Mertens eased him out to make his run he had he eventual winner on his outside but when Mertens called for the supreme effort the gelding was unable to produce that turn of foot he showed to win the race last year.