Nobeer Nofear, courtesy of a perfect drive by Craig Toulmin, sprinted quickly down the straight to score a decisive victory in the $30,000 Robert Fergusson Changing To CNW Hobart Evicus Final at TattersallsPark, Hobart on Sunday Night. The race was restricted Tasbreds and is the richest race of the season for the two year old fillies.
Prior to the 1609 meter race, the general consensus was the favourite Sweet Pea Jasper ($1.60) would lead and be hard to beat. She did lead but it was Toulmin’s decision to run Nobeer Nofear out of the gate and cross to the lead in front of Sweet Pea Jasper (Paul Ashwood) that resulted in the favourite working a little harder than expected to lead with Nobeer Nofear camped on her back.
Early moves included Miss Guenevere to the death beside Sweet Pea Jasper before Itswhatilikeaboutu ($7.40) lobbed outside Sweet Pea Jasper with 1000 meters to run. Driver Christian Salter allowed Itswhatilikeaboutu to maintain a solid tempo alongside Sweet Pea Jasper with Nobeer Nofear enjoying cover behind them.
As the two leaders wheeled into the straight, Toulmin eased three wide with Nobeer Nofear and the filly responded to his urgings by joining the leaders half way down the stretch and moving away to win by almost four metres from Itswhatilikeaboutu and Sweet Pea Jasper.
It was hectic behind Nobeer Nofear with only 1.5 metres between second and fifth. Really Fiesty (Gareth Rattray) was impressive charging into fourth with Jazzy Jane (James Rattray) fifth after racing three and four wide for the last 800 meters.
Nobeer Nofear is owned by Gary Bishop, ‘the Mayor of Cleveland’ – a tiny hamlet on the Midlands Highway about 30 minutes south of Launceston. She is trained at Carrick by Rod Plunkett, who stated everything worked out perfectly in the lead up to the big race. “She had a month away from racing after she won the Devonport Belmont in mid May and freshened up beautifully to be spot on for the big one last Sunday,” said Plunkett.
“We thought that if she found the front, we would hand up and rely on her good turn of speed at the finish. Everything worked in our favour and she was good enough to take advantage of the situation,” added Plunkett.
Plunkett is no stranger when it comes to training feature race winners having won the Tasmanian Derby (Digger Neptune – 1988), Dandy Patch Final (Sunshine Joe – 1993) and the Granny Smith Final (Milady Meg – 2003).
Plunkett, who trains around 20 horses at any one time, has enjoyed a good season with the three two year olds in his care. Nobeer Nofear has won two races and $27,285, Little Jethro has three wins and $14,054 and Prisoner has won two and $11,028 for a total of $52,367. Each of the three has won another $4,000 in Tasbred bonuses.
Nobeer Nofear is a full sister to Nobeer Nocheer, a seven year old gelding with 15 wins and $112,638 in stake money. Both are by Courage Under Fire out of the Ticket To Heaven mare Mon Mon Happy Day.
Nobeer Nofear is likely to end her two year old season off 20 meters in a standing start race at TattersallsPark, Hobart on Monday 22 July.