There was no shortage of news stories in Devonport last Sunday where 10 races were run on the typically fair synthetic surface.
To kick things off two of the bigger betting moves you’re likely to see came off in the opening two races ensuring punters were away to a flyer.
From there, Siggy Carr had a day out riding four winners with two of those coming aboard horses she trains and the other two for Rowan Hamer.
Brendon McCoull also had a riding double as did the returning Kyle Maskiell with both of his winners coming for Longford trainer John Blacker.
The winners
1009m
Race 1 (Maiden) – Julius 1:00.10
1150m
Date Night (Siggy Carr) winning a BM66 in Devonport on Sunday.
Race 9 (BM 66 Hcp) – Date Night 1:08.20
Race 8 (Class 1) – Sh’Bourne Rebel 1:08.75
1350m
Race 4 (BM 74 Hcp) – Braccenby 1:21.10
Race 6 (BM 60 Hcp) – Invincible Rock 1:21.93
Race 5 (BM 60 Hcp) – Gone Girl 1:22.08
Race 3 (Maiden) – Divisor 1:22.25
Race 2 (Maiden) – Red Fiore 1:22.77
Race 7 (Class 1) – Argyle Beach 1:23.02
1650m
Race 10 (BM 60 Hcp) – Special Moment 1:44.24
Race summaries
Race 1: Plenty of eyes were eagerly watching the first race where Julius ($2.10F) was backed in from as much as $8. The opening price was clearly wrong and after being slowly away the 3YO gelding was still far too good to justify his eventual short quote. It’s not easy to win over 1009m missing the start and he could be one to work through his grades quickly. First, second and third in running finished as the trifecta with the second horse Reward Achiever ($4.80) ready to win when she can draw a gate. Despite racing wide, Needadollarbill ($15.00) made an encouraging return for fourth, one to keep an eye on over more ground.
Red Fiore (Brendon McCoull) wins a maiden in Devonport.
Race 2: Hard to believe it was possible, but the second winner was perhaps backed more heavily than the first with Red Fiore ($2.90F) sensationally firming from $10 and higher to start a clear favourite. At start 20 he finally broke his maiden leading all the way with Brendon McCoull aboard. The first three across the line were the first three in running at the 600m with It’s La Premiere ($7) in fourth the only horse to make an impact from the back half of the field.
Race 3: Divisor ($1.90F) made it three favourites in as many races, winning the third of the day at his first Tasmanian start. Trainer Siggy Carr was in the saddle and the 3YO gelding was always the one to beat when Siggy found the front, but she received little peace when Moonlight Knight ($31.00) issued a mid-race challenge before dropping out to finish last. Left in front a long way from home the ex-Lloyd Kennewell gelding had plenty on the others headed by Gee Gee Devonboy ($6) who trailed the winner throughout. That pair gapped the rest with Spirit of Wiora ($9) throwing away a placing in the home straight by ducking in badly under Kyle Maskiell in a tough ride early in his return to racing.
Race 4: Siggy Carr had an early double when she partnered Braccenby ($5.50 out to $7) with a well-timed run to nail the leader Weekend Whisky ($10) who had her partner Troy Baker in the saddle. The gaps came at just the right time for the winner who is always in the mix around his home track. The runner-up was brave but it’s now 15 runs since his last win way back in November 2018. Easing favourite Ethical Dilemma ($2.70 out to $3.10) tried to round the field from the back and lost no admirers with the third fastest last 600m of the day from the Stridemaster data. Just 0.2 lengths split third to fifth with Shewearsthepants ($9.50) and Mr Churchill ($16.00) in that group and the well-backed Artie Dee Two ($5 into $3.60) a forgive run for his second race in a row, unable to gain clear running at key stages.
Braccenby (Siggy Carr) storms home to win a BM74 in Devonport.
Race 5: Give Us A Winner ($8), Caesar’s Quest ($4.60 out to $10) and Worthy Opponent ($18) raced each other early, eventually dropping out to be the last three across the line and setting the race up for run on horses. That suited Gone Girl ($2.50 out to $3.10F) who finds 1350m as short as she likes it around Devonport but was the strongest late to give Kyle Maskiell his first winner back. The 5YO mare was the class in the race but this was her first win at the track in nine attempts. Don Reggio ($15) ran a nice race at odds for second ahead of Snippety Cat ($6.50) and the well backed Mag Wheels ($4.80 into $3.30) who lacked a turn of foot over this distance.
Race 6: The Siggy Carr show rolled on with Invincible Rock ($10 into $7) receiving good late support and landing a tough all the way win. He was the only placegetter to settle anywhere near the speed and the overall time was a length quicker than the previous race despite those leaders cutting at each other and setting a mad pace. Both Fiveandfurther ($4.40 out to $8) and Congomotion ($21) were sectional stars to round out the placings. The former ran the fastest last 600m and 400m of the program off Stridemaster and the latter wasn’t far behind. The concern for Fiveandfurther is that she’s settled a clear last at her two runs back this campaign.
Race 7: An early decision to head to the front on Argyle Beach ($3.20 out to $4.60) proved to be a winning one and showed what a great asset Kyle Maskiell will be to the Tasmanian riding ranks. In a race that was nothing more than a sprint from the home corner, Argyle Beach had just pinched enough of a break to hold off the fast finishing Elisavet ($4.20 into $2.70) who closed with the third fastest last 200m of the day. This was the slowest of the six 1350m races, indicative of the early crawl where no horse seemingly wanted the lead. Vallbar ($4.20) showed enough on the synthetic at his first attempt, elevated to third on protest after Huon Chief ($13.00) layed in abruptly in the run home, chopping that horse out and giving a decent bump to the winner in the process.
Argyle Beach (Kyle Maskiell) winning a class one over 1350m in Devonport.
Race 8: The market gave a strong guide to the chances of two first-up runners when the well supported pair Sh’Bourne Rebel ($7.50 into $5F) held on to defeat Up Wind ($11 into $7). The win gave Brendon McCoull a double and it was a good effort by the 5YO gelding who over-raced early and was forced to make a run from the 600m without a cart into the race. Up Wind hadn’t raced since the Tasmanian Derby and made a terrific return for further. That pair put a couple of lengths on Rhyme Writer ($11) who had the drop on the leader Gee Gee Redhead ($6) who will likely be suited over the 1009m around this track.
Race 9: Date Night ($10 into $7) sat outside the leader and had enough in the tank in the run to the line to give Siggy Carr her fourth winner and provide Rowan Hamer with a training double. The 7YO gelding broke through for his first Tasmanian win at his 13th start for the stable, coming off the back of a strong trial win. Artuso ($5.50) had the second fastest last 600m of the program to work from midfield into second. After Elisavet and Up Wind earlier in the day, Leanne Gaffney can consider herself a little unlucky to leave with only one winner on the day. Gee Gees Cricket ($26) and Trojan Storm ($15) sat behind the leaders to round out the placings in a race largely dominated on-speed, which makes the performance of Cabarrus ($3.60F) who was able to find the front disappointing on face value. Zagame ($11) and GeeGees Brightstar ($14) were the best of the rest, both looking for 1350m around this track.
Race 10: David Pires stuck to the inside on Special Moment ($4.40 out to $6) and lifted her across the line in typical Pires fashion to finish the day. Pires landed at the leaders back and secured a rails run where the mare was one of only five horses for the day to break 12 seconds for the final 200m, a great effort at the end of 1650m. Spihro ($6) was very brave carrying 64kg to finish second after racing on-speed. Moss ‘N’ Bolt ($5.50 into $4.20) had good market support at his first Tasmanian appearance but after following the winner throughout had no luck getting clear when the gaps needed to come. Only a couple of lengths separated the first six across the line with the effort of Wineglass Bay ($6) worth mentioning, recording the fastest last 200m of the program from the Stridemaster data.
FORMPLUS Black Bookers
Fiveandfurther – Not a profitable formula following backmarkers around Devonport but she’s racing well and just needs to settle closer.
Wineglass Bay – Two excellent runs back. 1880m around Devonport will be preferable.
Watch the replay of Fiveandfurther rattling home behind Invincible Rock on Sunday.