Tasracing

The middle of last night’s Launceston program became a family affair when full sisters Gee Gee Double Dee and Gee Gee Josie took out the Australian Trainers Association Lady Lynette and Ladbrokes Elwick Stakes in consecutive races.

The big night for the daughters of Wordsmith and Josies Double was kicked off by Gee Gee Double Dee who gave a stark reminder of her ability, storming home from well back in the field at the Tasracing Official Price of $16.00.

Despite being the highest rated horse in the set weights and penalties race by some margin, the six-year-old-mare was relatively unwanted in betting, but relished a strong pace set in-front by My Biddy ($9.50) and Gee Gee Lanett ($4.80) to win by a narrow margin over the well supported Our Long Sali ($3.80) who had to settle for her sixth second placing in as many starts.

It was a good effort by the training trio of Leon, Dean and Trent Wells, who explained post-race that the mare had to overcome a setback leading into Wednesday night’s race.

“She was meant to go around about a fortnight ago and she pulled a shoe on the truck, so she was a bit lame for a few days, so we had to go back to square one,” explained Dean Wells.

Gee Gee Double Dee wins the Lady Lynette in Launceston.

Gee Gee Double Dee ran home with the fastest last 400 metre sectionals of the program which puts her right on track for the feature mares races for the remainder of the Ladbrokes Summer Racing Carnival.

“We’ll concentrate on the Bow Mistress,” said Wells when discussing the next target for the winner of 12 races.

In the following race the Stuart Gandy-trained Gee Gee Josie ($5.00) established herself as the best two-year-old of the season, winning the Listed Ladbrokes Elwick Stakes.

With regular rider Siggy Carr unavailable due to injury, it was a pick-up ride for Anthony Darmanin, who had the filly travelling sweetly just behind the leader Entrapped ($3.80).

“It’s unfortunate Siggy got hurt, it’s Siggy’s ride so I’m thankful Stuey gave me the opportunity,” Darmanin said.

With little between the two-year-old’s this season, punters had difficulty singling out a race favourite, but Darmanin entered the race with confidence.

“Watching the replays, I thought she was definitely the winner in the race. She had no luck last start, so I thought she’d be competitive today and she was”.

A delighted Stuart Gandy commended Darmanin for the ride and the ups and downs of racing were on display in the race, as the horse Darmanin rode at the previous start, Vivilici ($3.60 favourite) raced on heels in the straight and was unable to go to the line fully tested.

“It just all worked out, she’s been racing good and she only needed to improve half a length and she has,” said Gandy.

“She really showed maturity tonight and having a jockey like Anthony on, they’re not going to go backwards that’s for sure”.

First starter Hot Relation ($18.00) added plenty of value into exotics finishing second and has put his name into the two-year-old picture for upcoming races, with the next feature being the $150,000 Listed Gold Sovereign on 12 February.

Watch the replay of Gee Gee Josie winning the Ladbrokes Elwick Stakes last night.