Tasracing

When Broadmarsh trainer Brendan McShane was asked to participate in an edition of Tasracing’s From the Stables on the eve of the meeting in Launceston on Wednesday night he declined on the grounds he didn’t think either of his runners at the meeting were worthy of mention in their respective races.

Magic Khan was contesting a benchmark 60 handicap coming off a near-last effort at her previous start in a class three and Stepaside Rousey stepped out in a maiden-class one over 2100m after being outclassed at her two previous outings over shorter trips.

“I don’t want to lead punters up the garden path, so I’d rather not publicly talk about my two runners at the meeting,” McShane told this writer.,

Magic Khan finished a game second to the in-form Boom Dot Com at odds of $12 and Stepaside Rousey came with a barnstorming finish to win her race at $41.

“Nobody was more surprised at Stepaside Rousey’s win than me, in fact we had decided that this was probably going to be her last start,” McShane said post-race.

“We were happy to retire her and find a new home.

“She has never put together two runs the same and she has been a very difficult horse to deal with, as she showed again tonight by almost refusing to go to the barriers.

“But now that she has won a race, I guess we will have to put up with her antics a bit longer.”

McShane once rated Stepaside Rousey a genuine Tasmanian Oaks chance, but her attitude prevented her from realising her full potential.

Stepaside Rousey was ridden by two kilogram-claiming Victorian apprentice Mikaela Lawrence and it was her first win in Tasmania.

Magic Khan, also ridden by Lawrence, has scope to improve and her effort on Wednesday night was full of merit.

“We have long had an opinion of Magic Khan, but I thought she was probably a run short of delivering her best, so perseverance will hopefully pay dividends.”

Watch Stepaside Rousey score a win at bolters odds in Launceston on Wednesday night.