We were back in Devonport on Monday after last week’s Ladbrokes Devonport Cup, a race meeting added in to accommodate some maiden and lower benchmark races as a consequence of the abandoned meeting in Hobart. Bulent Muhcu continued his purple patch of form in Devonport riding seven winners from 18 races across the two meetings and to add even more merit to his form, he has been riding some decent prices winners. John Blacker continued his outstanding run as a trainer with another four winners on Monday.
Race Winners & Summaries
Race 1 – 2YO Maiden 1009m – Gee Gees Al Prince/Troy Baker – $41,00 (1:00.04)
The pattern of Devonport Cup day continued in race 1 with Gee Gee Als Prince racing off the pace and Troy Baker allowed it to build momentum coming widest and get to the middle of the track to win on debut. Outbound over raced early but was always just outside the leader and its been evident that the inside has not produced as many winners here in the last two meetings so Adam Trinder’s 2YO gelding is one to follow next time. Lacerate started favourite and did nothing wrong, leading most of the way but as mentioned, the rail has strangely not been too kind to the leaders so look for him to run well again next start. The winning time here was roughly three lengths slower than the win of Kohima in a Class 1 on Devonport Cup day.
Gee Gee Als Prince (Troy Baker) wins on debut in Devonport.
Race 2 – Maiden 1350m – Port Berry/Bulent Muhcu – $8.50 (1:23.35)
You don’t want to be drawn wide over the 1350m start in Devonport, with a short run to the turn you can get caught wide which was what happened to race favourite Boss Cheyenne, eventually working to the front to take the lead but she stuck on well down the straight to hold on for third. Bulent Muhcu is in a purple patch of form in Devonport and another great ride allowed Port Berry to settle near the tail in this small field. He began building momentum before the turn coming widest as we’ve seen so often over the last two meetings, allowing Port Berry to swoop down the middle of the track to win. Always a Winner sat outside Boss Cheyenne and just pipped her on the line for second in a race that was considerably slower than the other two 1350m races run on the day.
Race 3 – Maiden 1150m – Sparkling One/Troy Baker – $2.20 (1:09.17)
Cameron Thompson found a weak maiden for his 4yo Mare Sparkling One, she jumped well, led from start to finish and absolutely smashed the field by 6.5 lengths. Her time would have had her one length behind the maiden win of Gee Gees Jennia on Cup Day and about five lengths behind Aragon Star who won a BM66 that day over the same distance, so if she’s well placed should could be competitive next run but I’d be focusing on the time more so than what she beat here in this race. Lightly raced Sirocco Shamal although finishing fifth, settled last and ran wide but had the fastest final 200m, the 5YO Mare for Ramon Goldsmith is probably the other runner I’ll keep an eye out for next start.
Sparkling One (Troy Baker) wins with ease in an 1150m maiden in Devonport.
Race 4 – BM66 1350m – Lesnar/Codi Jordan – $2.35 (1:20.95)
Backing up from Cup day where he was a touch unlucky, trainer Glenn Stevenson opted to use the 3kg claim of apprentice Codi Jordan and allow Lesnar to make his own luck by working to the lead from barrier five in a catch me if you can ride. His time reflected that he wasn’t able to show his best on Cup Day, running about 10 lengths faster here when allowed to roll along in the lead taking luck out of the equation. Barjeel settled toward the tail which left Ismail Toker too much to do despite running the fastest final 400m/200m to finish in second.
Race 5 – Maiden/Class 1 1650m – Phenomenal Dancer/Craig Newitt – $2.25 (1:44.29)
Having its first start in Tasmania for John Blacker, Craig Newitt gave the 5YO mare Phenomenal Dancer an absolute peach of a ride. She’s raced over 2400m previously and she settled fifth and switched off mid-race and although the time was considerably slower than those on Cup day over this distance, it seems her best will be over further and she did enough to win here. Troy Baker settled behind Phenomenal Dancer and came widest to record the fastest final 600m/400m/200m of the race on Gaius Julius. Red Roger won well on Longford Cup day and led that day, instead Codi Jordan gave him a good ride just behind the leaders but he was a little one paced and may prefer a track like Launceston having no excuses in this race.
Race 6 – BM60 1350m – French Heiress/Bulent Muhcu – $2.05 (1:22.40)
Bulent Muhcu’s purple patch continued here, giving the race favourite a good ride, he began his run early before the home bend allowing John Blacker’s 5YO mare, French Heiress to build momentum down the centre of the track eventually running down leader Pompeia who led and tried hard but settled for second. Gee Gees Punter settled at the tail and over raced early but still managed the fastest final 400m, perhaps forgive this run although he did finish third and could improve next start. Important to note that this time was much slower than the win of Lesnar earlier today.
French Heiress (Bulent Muhcu) wins a BM60 in Devonport.
Race 7 – BM60 1150m – Rhyme Writer/Daniel Ganderton – $17 (1:08.80)
Daniel Ganderton gave Rhyme Writer a gun run, settling third behind the speed battle between Kohima and Gee Gee Acehigh and peeled out to the middle of the track, the challengers came from the back but he had himself in a good position and couldn’t be chased down. Kohima led and set a good pace but couldn’t shake off Gee Gee Acehigh and tired late. Craig Newitt pushed the big gelding Verekai who grinded away but had to settle for second. This race was the faster of the two over this distance today.
Race 8 – BM66 1880m – Rodessa/Bulent Muhcu – $7.50 (1:57.54)
Bulent Muhcu finished off the day with another winner for John Blacker in a ride that saw him settle the 6YO mare Rodessa at the tail, patiently waiting as they bunched at the home bend and coming widest to produce the fastest final 600m/400m/200m of the race yet again proving that being allowed to build momentum unimpeded was the way to go. He barely had to use the whip as she simply cruised through her gears, Muhcu clearly knowing the horse well having ridden her at five of her last six starts. Race favourite Banca Nip was midfield with cover and also got to the middle of the track and ran on well while Kaimu who led throughout and stuck to the rails only just missed second and the 6Yo mares run had some merit.
FORMPLUS Blackbook
2YO’s Outbound and Lacerate will again go around in a maiden and look to have above average ability, with their racing pattern I’d like to see them run around Launceston. Sirocco Shamal can be winning a maiden soon and we’ll likely get decent odds, expect to see improvement from her. Gee Gee Al Prince with natural improvement could be competitive next start and will get over more ground. Phenomenal Dancer looks like a horse that will relish 1880m, then 2100m based off how well it switched off mid race and could go on to win some lower benchmark or a class 1 over further next start.