The track
This meeting was postponed from Wednesday where there were a few issues with the track from the previous rail movement but none of those were evident on Saturday. The track raced as a good 4 throughout the day and where winners came from was largely dependant on race tempo.
The winners
1100m
Race 8 (Benchmark 66) – Gee Gee Pengala 1.04.21
Race 2 (2YO Maiden) – Warrior Prince 1.05.36
1200m
Race 5 (Class 3) – Fighting Phoenix 1.10.87
Race 4 (3YO Maiden) – Rhyme Writer 1.11.30
1400m
Race 1 (Maiden) – Goodness Gracie 1.24.39
Race 6 (Class 1) – Gee Gees Bulldog 1.25.37
1600m
Race 3 (Maiden/Class 1) – Stinka 1.36.36
Race 7 (Benchmark 66) – Silver Road 1.36.69
Race summaries
Race 1: Thomas Doyle brought up his first Tasmanian winner since arriving down here aboard Goodness Gracie ($5.00) who drifted out from $4 early. Doyle landed in the box seat behind the two leaders which was the story of the race with his main dangers settling behind. Favourite Margarita Talking ($2.90) settled further back then recent starts and used a bit of petrol before the home turn and never really looked a threat despite running second.
Race 2: Warrior Prince ($2.05F) defied a tough run in what was one of the most impressive wins of the day. Anthony Darmanin had no luck from a poor draw and had little choice but to race wide without cover but the colt was still too good. After running Le Cadeau to a half length on debut, his name deserves to be in the ring among the better 2YO’s this season, and bookmakers can count themselves lucky that the $3.50 and above originally posted on Wednesday was voided when the meeting was postponed. Down the Line ($9.00) had the drop on the winner but could only match his sectionals to the line, although he proved he has plenty of ability himself. Gee Gees Jennia ($4.80) was held up at key stages on the rail in fourth and was a bit unlucky not to run into the top three.
Stinka (Craig Newitt) wins a maiden/class 1 in Launceston on 28 March.
Race 3: Consistency was rewarded when Stinka ($3.70) broke through for his second career win at start 25. He was well ridden by Craig Newitt who settled back as the horse normally does but picked his way through the field to be within touch on the home turn. Gee Gees Magic Man ($9.50) was well backed and another to work through the field for second ahead of Ressy Ranger ($8.50) who was the best of the on-pacers.
Race 4: In one of the closest finishes of the day Rhyme Writer ($8.00) found a gap at the right time and brought up a race to race double for Craig Newitt. The horse always looked to be travelling well behind the leaders and just needed room for a run which thankfully for connections came just at the right time in the home straight. Stefanidi ($6.50) was having her second career start for trainer Ian Hay and was perhaps the unlucky runner boxed on the inside for much of the race and flashing late to dead heat for second. I’m A Floozy ($5.50) had late support and raced outside Gee Gee Royboy ($3.40F) who was the opposite and a big late drifter to round out the top four. Just 0.6 lengths split that group across the line, but the overall time was only around 2.5 lengths slower than the benchmark 66 win in the following race so I think this can produce some winners before too long.
Race 5: The first leg of the quaddie went the way of Fighting Phoenix ($4.20) for Mark and Daniel Ganderton. The mare was very well backed when markets opened Wednesday, but if anything a slight drifter on Saturday and she paid a staggering $7.30 with Ladbrokes best tote/SP product. It was a well timed ride from Ganderton who had the 5YO positioned behind the speed and presented at the right time to wear down the leader Silkstone ($3.30F) who was brave after being pressured a fair way from home. The returning Fiveandfurther ($7.00) was supported late and caught the eye running into third with the fastest last 600m sectionals of the race.
Race 6: Daniel Ganderton brought up a two winners in as many races with an upset result aboard Gee Gees Bulldog ($16.00). Ganderton secured the run of the race from the 1-1 position, trucking up to the leaders on the home turn and just getting the result over Sheorta ($10.00) who raced outside the leader. This looked a race lacking pace on paper and it played out that way with back markers making no impact and the overall time being almost a full second slower than the maiden win of Goodness Gracie to open the day. As a result this will be a hard race to trust the form going forward.
Race 7: This was another slowly run race and the first three to the home turn were the first three across the line with Silver Road ($5.50) winning his second consecutive race in this grade, both with apprentice Ianish Luximon aboard. The ability for trainer John Blacker to use the 4kg claimer is a luxury as he will comfortably be able to stay in this grade having only carried 55.5kg to win on Saturday. The overall time was a couple of lengths slower than the maiden/class 1 win of Stinka so it’s another race where it’s difficult to see anything rising past this level quickly.
Gee Gee Pengala (Ianish Luximon) wins a BM66 1100m on 28 March
Race 8: Gee Gee Pengala ($2.40F) was well supported and secured a relatively soft victory in the last of the day. Ianish Luximon became the third jockey of the day with a race to race double and is riding with great confidence since his first win a few weeks ago. The 4YO gelding’s grass track form is nine starts for seven placings and four wins and he has now won two in a row. Equilago ($5.00) was very easy in betting late but ran home well for second, while Gee Gee Queen Bee ($3.50) continued her jekyll and hyde routine, looking the winner turning for home but fading to miss the placings.
Watch the replay of Fighting Phoenix win race 5 on Saturday.