In Brief
- Races brought forward in Launceston.
- Dominant favourites in the two features.
- MM sales vouchers are being provided to winning trainers.
It will be a case of going straight from breakfast to the races for many heading to Launceston on Sunday.
With a forecast of 33 degrees, Tasracing has enacted its ‘Racing in Hot Weather’ Policy, which has brought the first race forward to 10:43. The last of nine races will now be run at 15:22.
Sunday’s two feature races are restricted to Magic Millions Yearling Sales products, and two pronounced favourites will be seen going around.
The Stuart Gandy-trained Zany Girl aims to extend her unbeaten streak to four in the $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m), coming off a victory in the Listed Elwick Stakes.
The daughter of Needs Further x Isn’t Life Strange can take her career earnings past $200,000 with victory on Sunday, a brilliant return for the $65,000 2024 Tasmanian Magic Millions purchase.
Zany Girl (A.Darmanin) wins the 2025 Elwick Stakes in Hobart.
“She’s probably got one of the best turns of foot of a two-year-old that I’ve trained,” said Stu Gandy about Zany Girl following her Elwick Stakes triumph.
The Magic Millions Classic is the first 2YO race run in Launceston this season, which adds a different dynamic to the race, but it’s clear that Zany Girl is the pick of the raced brigade.
She meets Star Fortian again, who was only 0.15 lengths behind when they met in the first 2YO race of the season in mid-December. The Leanne Gaffney-trained filly hasn’t raced since then but warrants respect for that effort. Of the first starters, Sanniya (Stratosphere – Lady Writer) is a half-sister to the smart War Correspondent, and the $67,500 purchase trialled well at Longford earlier in the month.
After being scratched from the Ladbrokes Stakes last week, Durazzo is set to take his place in the $75,000 Magic Millions 3YO/4YO Classic (1400m), seemingly scaring some opposition away with only a field of five left after the early scratching of Victorian visitor Orion the Hunter.
“The horse is good as gold. He had a good gallop on Tuesday morning; Kelvin (Sanderson) rode him and said he worked terrific,” said Durazzo’s trainer, Barry Campbell.
Sanderson is unbeaten in four starts aboard the gelded son of Needs Further x Arenzano, who may potentially head toward the Listed WFA Thomas Lyons Stakes (1400m) on Hobart Cup Day, if he does what most will expect him to do on Sunday.
The John Blacker-trained pair Perola and Stardarmus head to the race off good recent Hobart performances and would appear best placed to cause an upset.
Tasracing in conjunction with Magic Millions will provide the winning trainer of every race in Launceston on Sunday with a $5,000 voucher to be redeemed at the 2025 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale on 24 February.