Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Devonport Cup has attracted a field of 11 runners, down from a possible maximum of 14. Last year’s second and third placegetters Speed Force and Settler’s Stone return this year and recent Cup winners Triple Strip (Longford) and Toorak Affair (Sheffield) secured ballot-free entry by winning those races.
There is a distinct lack of speed in this year’s Cup and certainly no obvious leader. Dropping considerably in weight from last start, Gee Gee Fiorente is one that may look to lead, but early tactics will be interesting as there may be spots on the speed up for grabs which could see horses ridden outside their usual racing pattern.
- Speed Force (4) – Assessed Price $4.50
If Bill Ryan chooses to run him here, he will be on the four-day back-up after finishing fourth in the Tasmanian Stakes on Saturday night, settling in the back half when the race was dominated on-speed. He ran second in this race last year but will carry an extra 5kg than he did running second to Eastender in 2019. He is a proven weight carrier though and should enjoy a good run for Brendon McCoull from an ideal gate.
- Beaufort Lad (6) – Assessed Price $8.00
The first of an incredible five runners that John Blacker will saddle up in the race. The 8YO has been settling a mile back in his races and hitting the line strongly when the race is over. He is racing like 1880m is ideal and is the weight horse from the Sheffield Cup, dropping 3.5kg. He will carry 2kg less than he did finishing sixth in this race in 2019, and if he is within striking distance turning for home, he will be a big danger.
- Toorak Affair (7) – Assessed Price $5.50
She’s the winner of her last three races, the latest being the traditional lead-up to this race the Sheffield Cup. Anthony Darmanin takes over from Daniel Ganderton for the Cup, and she’s one that has shown the ability to push forward which is vastly different from her early career. She’s never won past 1650m, but fitness is rarely a query for Michael Trinder-trained horses, particularly in a race he has won multiple times in the past.
- Settler’s Stone (11) – Assessed Price $15.00
The 8YO got the fitness run he needed in the Longford Cup after a misunderstanding at acceptances forced him to miss the Sheffield Cup. He will drop 5kg from New Year’s Day so will meet everything out of that race considerably better at the weights, and while 1880m is short of his best distance, he did finish third in this race at a big price last year.
- Triple Strip (8) – Assessed Price $17.00
The 4YO mare got a gem of a ride from Bulent Muchu to win the Longford Cup, bouncing back from a poor run in the Sheffield Cup the start prior. She’s won twice at the track so the synthetic can’t be seen as an issue despite her latest run here, and a repeat of her Longford Cup performance would have her going close.
- Magnasa (5) – Assessed Price $13.00
He secured runs nearer the inside to flash home and run second in the Longford Cup, and returns to a track where he has won six races in the past. He hasn’t won past the Devonport mile, but his run over 1800m at Longford suggests the distance won’t be an issue, and he will meet Triple Strip 2kg better for a half-length margin.
- Willby Rules (2) – Assessed Price $50.00
A win over 1150m on Melbourne Cup day gave the indicator that he was on track for a big Cup preparation, but things have gone south since then with some average runs in the Golden Mile and Sheffield Cup. He runs his best races in Devonport but is on-trust after recent performances despite a good draw and David Pires being aboard.
- Braccenby (3) – Assessed Price $75.00
The 7YO has been incredibly well placed by Rowan Hamer whose gelding reeled off four consecutive wins in benchmark races, often in small fields. He targeted this race as a result, but Braccenby hasn’t proven he is up to open handicap level in the lead-up races and is entitled to be an outsider in this field.
- Newhart (9) – Assessed Price $7.00
The question around whether Newhart would get a start in the race need not have been a question at all given we don’t have a capacity field. After some impressive performances through winter, this race became a target, and he established himself as a contender for this race with a barnstorming second in the Sheffield Cup. Whether this race is a year too soon remains to be seen, but the 4YO is clearly a talent and the Star Thoroughbred colours won this race last year with Eastender.
- Gee Gee Fiorente (10) – Assessed Price $20.00
He missed a start in the Sheffield Cup due to a rider shortage but got his campaign back on track with an impressive win carrying 62kg on 29 December. With no obvious leader, he’s one that can potentially push forward which may be his best chance at securing what would be a minor upset result.
- Glass Warrior (1) – Assessed Price $25.00
The 4YO mare ran home well in the Sheffield Cup to finish just behind the placegetters so it’s no surprise to see her line up here. She won the Listed Launceston Guineas by a space as a 3YO, but she’s poorly treated at the weights here, carrying the same weight as a mare like Toorak Affair who is rated 17 points higher.
Matt Reid’s Ladbrokes Devonport Cup market below:
| Speed Force | 4.5 | 22% |
| Beaufort Lad | 8 | 13% |
| Toorak Affair | 5.5 | 18% |
| Settler’s Stone | 15 | 7% |
| Triple Strip | 17 | 6% |
| Magnasa | 13 | 8% |
| Willby Rules | 50 | 2% |
| Braccenby | 75 | 1% |
| Newhart | 7 | 14% |
| Gee Gee Fiorente | 20 | 5% |
| Glass Warrior | 25 | 4% |
| 100% |