SPREYTON trainer David Miller has always believed his sprinter-miler Zellarcy had the potential to win his home town cup ands given the six-year-old’s impressive win over 1600m in Launceston on Sunday he might yet realise the dream.
Zellarcy was having only his second run this preparation, coming off a first-up third in Hobart.
The gelding was well backed to start the $2.80 favourite and while most punters would have expected Zellarcy to lead on what appeared to be a leader biased track, rider Kelvin Sanderson had other ideas.
Sanderson eased his charge out of a speed battle with Capone and Testasaurus, opting to take a sit and the gelding settled well.
When Sanderson hit the go button nearing the home turn Zellarcy responded and went on to score by almost three lengths from the fast-finishing Raging Baa that edged Capone out of second place.
Zellarcy contested this year’s Devonport Cup in January for a fourth behind last season’s Horse of the Year Dream Pedlar.
“The plan is to have another go (at Devonport Cup) but what we do with him in the meantime is the problem,” Miller said.
“It’s hard to find suitable open class races. He’ll run over 1600 metres at Elwick (Tattersall’s Park) in three weeks but I haven’t looked beyond that race,” he said.
Miller celebrated a double when his lightly raced four-year-old Stormpatch produced a barnstorming finish to win the class one handicap over 1220m that was named in honour of jockey Dianne Parish who retired recently.
Stormpatch’s rider Anthony Darmanin said the gelding was suited by a past pace.
“The speed being on really helped him,” Darmanin said.
“He settled well and while at one stage in the straight I thought he was only going to run second but he dug deep and hit the line strong,” he said.
It was Stormpatch’s second win from only 10 starts.
Darmanin also scored aboard the Bill Ryan-trained Bella La Vida in the 3YO Maiden over 1120m.
Bella La Vida was having only her second start and was resuming from a spell. The Ladoni filly showed good early speed and settled just off the pace.
When Darmanin called on the filly for the supreme effort in the home straight she responded well and despite running about a bit under pressure she went on to score by a neck from Gee Gees Cashcard (Dash For Cash-Silver Barbie) that was one of the top-priced yearling at the Tasmanian Magic Millions sale in 2010.
Paul and Elizabeth Geard paid $67,500 for the grey colt that has since been gelded.
Gee Gees Cashcard ran last of six on debut and was beaten almost 14 lengths after showing early speed.
Last Sunday he was ridden back in the field and ran home powerfully to just fail.
Watch Race 6 replay – click here .