JOCKEY Brendon McCoull and trainer Terry Evans were the big winners when Saturday racing made a welcome return to Mowbray.
The rare Saturday afternoon meeting drew a big crowd and saw McCoull ride five winners and Evans win the $50,000 Tasmanian Sires Produce for the second year in a row with Western Hero.
David and Scott Brunton also had a day out, winning three races including the $25,000 Spring 3YO Classic with Huon Knight.
The Michael Trinder-trained Royal Miswaki made it six wins from her past eight starts in the $30,000 Tasmanian St Leger and outsider Build A Bridge returned to form to win the $25,000 Fillies & Mares Classic for Charlie Goggin and Luella Meaburn.
McCoull’s wins on Simon Said Lets Go, Encosta De Legend, Western Hero, Banca Mo and Huon Knight took his season’s tally to 53 and, despite missing 2 1/2 months due to injury, he is now only half a win behind Stephen Maskiell in the jockeys’ premiership.
Western Hero’s dominant win in the Sires Produce confirmed his status as this season’s top two-year-old.
It was his fifth win from nine starts for the Horse Racing Tragics Syndicate and has Evans eyeing a trip to Melbourne.
“We’ll wait till the dust settles but you’ve got to think about it,” the trainer said.
“You don’t get horses like this very often.
“He’s had a long preparation but he’s had a couple of little breaks and he’s a horse that doesn’t waste any energy on trackwork.
“He’s like any good sportsman – he relaxes in his stall and goes to sleep while he’s waiting for his race to come around.”
Evans said that Western Hero was a clearly superior horse to his 2011 Sires Produce winner Pittenweem.
“There’s no comparison,” he said.
NO JUMPS AHEAD
MICHAEL Trinder knows what he would like to do with St Leger winner Royal Miswaki – but is certain the mare’s owners won’t let him.
“She’d make a great jumper – I think she could be as good as (feature jumps winners) Monsist and Mansion Downs,” the trainer said.
“But that’s not going to happen so she can go to the paddock now and hopefully she’ll measure up to some good flat races next time in.”
Royal Miswaki, ridden by Anthony Darmanin, dashed clear at the top of the straight but the fast-finishing Beven Heights got to within a nose on the line.
“She is inclined to relax when she hits the front,” Trinder said.
MELBOURNE BOUND
HUON Knight’s strong win in the 3YO Classic has co-trainer Scott Brunton looking for Melbourne targets.
“There’s a race coming up at Moonee Valley that might suit him,” Brunton said.
His father David was non-committal but agreed that Huon Knight was “a beauty.”
“He’s tough, he settles well in his races and he’ll get further (than 1400m),” David Brunton said.
Talented stablemate Galibier finished fourth in the race but Brunton said he was not suited on the slow track.
BRIDGE TOO GOOD
JOCKEY Shannon Brazil completed a double when she out-rode her rivals to win the Fillies & Mares Classic on Build A Bridge.
While most riders skirted wide, Brazil stayed near the rail and went around only one horse as Build A Bridge came from third-last to record her 10th win.
The mare landed some good bets at long odds, firming from $61 to $26 in Tattsbet’s fixed-odds market.
Courtesy of The Examiner