STEVE DAVIS is one of only a handful of horsemen in Tasmania who dabble in the art of training both standardbreds and thoroughbred.
In Launceston for the past two meetings Davis has excelled in the thoroughbred code snaring a double at each meeting.
Last night he prepared Leigh John to finally win a maiden in the opening race on the eight-event card and he made it bookend wins when his promising staying mare Also Doll won the last race over 2100 metres.
Leigh John had been knocking on the door of late with multiple minor placings and given a gun ride by Anthony Darmanin the well-bred four-year-old delivered the goods scoring comfortably from Into The Wind and Shinziggy.
Alsa Doll (Boris Thornton) was very impressive in winning a maiden-class one over 2100 metres to suggest that she may have a bright future as a stayer.
“We were about to put her on the boat and take her to Victoria in search of staying races but she saved us that exercise for the time being by winning two weeks ago and she’s done it again and this time it was with some authority,” Davis said.
Also Doll is by Savoire Vivre from the Devon Flyer mare Almecca and has always shown staying prowess.
We’ll look for another race for her and then maybe give her a break,” Davis said.