Newmarket night in Launceston had a different feel this year with three-time champion I’m Wesley absent from the field. It was the Team Wells-trained Gee Gee Secondover who was crowned the new champ thanks to a terrific ride from Bulent Muhcu.
The Newmarket win was part of a double for Muhcu who shared riding honours with Ismail Toker and Siggy Carr who each had two winners, Siggy also preparing two as a trainer.
The track
The weather was fine, and the track raced as a soft 5 throughout but for the third successive time with the rail in the +3m position, it was a significant advantage to settle on the rails in running.
Banca Nip was the only winner to settle a lane off the rail and with the pattern of the night it was an advantage to settle on speed.
I’d be forgiving of runs for horses that raced away from the inside lanes and keep in the memory bank this track pattern for when the rail returns to this position.
The winners
1100m
Race 1 (Maiden) – Coronation Doris 1:06.63
1200m
Race 8 (BM84) – Gee Gee Lanett 1:11.00
Race 5 (Newmarket) – Gee Gee Secondover 1:11.03
Gee Gee Secondover (Bulent Muhcu) wins the Newmarket from Mandela Effect (David Pires).
Race 3 (BM60) – Hannah’s Song 1:12.52
1400m
Race 2 (Maiden) – Supalopo 1:25.57
Race 6 (BM66) – Assaranca 1:25.82
Race 7 (0-60) – Banca Nip 1:26.44
1600m
Race 4 (BM74) – Orange Roughie 1:37.42
Race summaries
Race 1: The pattern for the night was established early when Coronation Doris ($91 into $31) drew gate one and followed the rail throughout for an upset victory. Credit goes to apprentice Codi Jordan who didn’t panic when she was blocked for a run on the home turn and waited for the gap to appear. On the best part of the track the mare sprinted with the fastest last 200m of the program to hold off the fancied Adam Trinder pair Clifton Danseur ($3 out to $4) and Mystical Beauty ($2.10F). The favourite was perhaps a shade disappointing but as the night unfolded clearly settling on the rails was an advantage while the effort of Clifton Danseur to round the field from last was an excellent debut.
Coronation Doris (Codi Jordan) wins in Launceston.
Race 2: The market didn’t miss Supalopo ($1.55 into $1.28F) who broke through for a deserved maiden win at start five. Despite being a step slow early from the inside draw, Brendon McCoull secured an economical run through the field and would have enjoyed the solid tempo set by Thebolt ($15 out to $41) in front. Favourite punters were on good terms with themselves turning for home and it was a soft result on the line. Despite being maiden grade, this was the fastest of the three 1400m races on the night so I can see him being competitive up in grade quickly. Captain Morgan ($20 out to $31) finished second appreciating the way the race was run in a nice return for something over further. Second elect Skilendra ($4.80 out to $7) found a good spot in running but an early bumping dual with Olympic Honour ($6 out to $18) appeared to take a bit away from the finish of each horse in the home straight.
Race 3: Siggy Carr already had a winner as a trainer and added another with a front-running ride on Hannah’s Song ($13 into $8). For the second consecutive start the 5YO mare showed great early speed to lead and Siggy then rated her a treat in front and she never really looked like being run down. Race favourite Tiltherewarsyou ($5 into $3.70F) had the winners back in running but didn’t put a dent in the margin after straightening and the third horse Gee Gees Darl ($4.60) lost a stack of ground going wide on the home turn searching for a run. After pulling up with issues in Hobart, Ascot Lad ($8 out to $14) returned to form despite missing the placings, forced to come from back and wide which was an impossible task on the night.
Hannah’s Song (Siggy Carr) wins in Launceston on 25 November.
Race 4: The rapid rise of Orange Roughie ($2.60 out to $3.40) continued as he was an easy winner in benchmark 74 company. In the care of trainer Stephen Shaw the 5YO gelding has gone from a maiden to basically open class in the space of four starts and this was a tough on pace effort. Races such as the Devonport Cup and even a Tasmanian Stakes must now be on the agenda for arguably the state’s most improved horse. Our Declaration ($14 into $7.50) had the right run but ran up to her market support to finish second ahead of Jeremiah ($2.90 out to $3.80) who had no chance to win after settling last and having to round the field but was an excellent run in any event.
Race 5: Plenty of value was injected into the quaddie through the first leg when Gee Gee Secondover ($13 out to $18) broke through for his first black-type victory. The win would rank as one of the biggest for rider Bulent Muhcu who rode for luck from a wide draw, snagging back to last and persisting with rails runs. Thankfully for him and connections of Gee Gee Secondover the breaks came at the right time. Often a class below the state’s very best in previous seasons it was a deserved win for the 5YO gelding who was fourth in the race last year. Mandela Effect ($2.80 out to $3.30F) found a few traffic issues which weren’t unexpected but his flashing second shows that he is right on track to repeat his weight-for-age feats of last season. The late money arrived for Street Tough ($7.50 into $4.60) who missed the start by a few lengths but still found a reasonable position. It may be the one that got away for the 6YO gelding who seems to excel first-up.
Assaranca (Ismail Toker) wins in Launceston.
Race 6: 3YO filly Assaranca ($4) has been touted as a quality staying prospect and she relished the step to middle distance aided by a good front running ride by Ismail Toker. The best of the filly’s recent 1200m races has been the finish but she showed good tactical speed to take full advantage of the inside draw which was pivotal given the pattern for the night. The first three across the line drew the three inside gates and each settled on the rail. The market may have keyed in on that bias with Shewearsthepants ($26 into $10) very well supported before finishing second. Favourite Our Shinkansen ($2.80 out to $3.40) drew a wide barrier but seemed to race a bit flat compared to her recent efforts.
Race 7: The application of blinkers and tongue tie did the trick for Banca Nip ($5 out to $7.50) who defied a betting drift to give jockey Ismail Toker a race to race double. It was a good ride from Toker who wasn’t able to secure a spot on the coveted rails but pursued with runs in between runners rather than circle the field. The overall winning time was easily the slowest of the three 1400m races but in turn the 6YO gelding will be better over further. San You ($15 into $8.50) was an unexpected leader but made full use of a rails draw to give some cheek in front while Needs Amore ($8.50) made good late ground when the race was over. The well-supported favourite Spihro ($4 into $3.30) wasn’t able to slot in early and a tough run told late as he failed to beat a runner home.
Banca Nip (Ismail Toker) wins a 0-60 in Launceston.
Race 8: Gee Gee Lanett ($3 into $2.60) took full advantage of favourable conditions to easily win the last race of the night. It was basically déjà vu from her previous win on 23 October which was also in the final race with the rail in the same position. She led all the way there and did the same here with Siggy Carr delivering her eighth win aboard the mare. The winning time was fractionally quicker than the Newmarket to show that the winner is back to some of her best form.
FORMPLUS Black Book
Clifton Danseur – It was a night to put a premium on circling runs from the back and that’s what the 3YO gelding did on debut. He was green in the straight so will take some benefit from the outing.
Watch the upset win of Coronation Doris in the opening race with Clifton Dansour in second.