THE arrival of three pups from a well-bred litter into the Ted Medhurst kennel looks set to expand the trainer’s lead on the 2012 Tasmanian premiership table.
Medhurst received three pups from Victorian breeder Dennis Kolokathis about four months ago and at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last night two of the trio made impressive winning debuts.
Calamity Free (Where’s Pedro-Shanlyn Supreme) and Dark Warrior were both drawn out in juveniles over 461 metres.
Calamity Free lined up in the Risdon Vale Newsagency Juvenile over 461 metres and despite wearing the green vest he made light of the awkward draw to lead all the way.
He was pressured from the 340-metre boxes to well into the straight but just when it looked as if another first starter Got Beer Goggles loomed to win Calamity Free dug deep and staved off the challenge.
Calamity Free went on to defeat Got Beer Goggles by almost a length with Take Up Dylan three lengths away third and just in advance of Enfield Fire.
Dark Warrior ($5) began well from box eight but he didn’t have enough speed to cross Fine Eagle (4) and Cointreau Cap (6) that matched motors to the home turn with Dark Warrior just off the pace and racing wide.
Medhurst’s new arrival stayed wide on the track in the home straight but he finished so powerfully that he grabbed the leaders in the shadows of the post to get a half-length margin on the favourite Cointreau Cap ($2.80) with the heavily backed Fine Eagle ($2.90)a nose astern.
“These are the first dogs I’ve trained for Dennis Kolokathis and they all have very good habits,” Medhurst said.
“They do everything right and while they are not possessed with a lot of early brilliance they will all win their low grades and hopefully they will improve with experience,” he said.
Medhurst said there is very little between the three pups although Dark Warrior’s time of 26.54 was clearly better than Calamity Free that ran the 461 metres in 26.73s.
The pups are 21-months old, so Calamity Free and Dark Warrior have plenty of time to win their juveniles at Devonport and Launceston.
Medhurst ended the night with a treble courtesy of Mr Everywhere winning the Invitation over 461 metres.
Mr Everywhere ($4.80) was slowly away from box two and had most of the field ahead of him nearing the 340m boxes.
But he booted through when the leaders packed and sped clear near the home turn and held almost a length margin on his kennel mate and race favourite November Digger ($3.10) with outsider Left Seattle almost two lengths away third ahead of Decembrist.