In Brief
- Tone Deaf and Mantha Lee in fine form.
- Trainer expects both to be hard to beat.
- Bookmakers have them skinny odds.
Exciting sprinter Tone Deaf will be out to continue her spectacular form post coronavirus shutdown when she takes her place in the second event in Launceston on Monday night.
Stepping out in a grade five over the 278-metre scamper, the ultra-talented daughter of Barcia Bale returned to racing in Hobart last Thursday in outstanding style, defeating a hot field of sprinters over the 461 metres in a best of meeting 26.04.
And while the drop back to the 278 metres is some cause for concern, trainer Graeme Moate believes the January 2018 whelp, which has won eight of her 14 starts, should prove too classy for her opposition with even luck early.
“She’s got to begin and if she does, she should be too classy but you won’t become rich backing her,” Moate said of the $1.50 favourite.
“At her two runs at Launceston as a pup she missed the start both times which you just can’t afford to do. But she’s much more reliable now. Both her and her sister (Mantha Lee) are the same.
“They have great habits and good early speed. I was really happy with Tone Deaf last Thursday. I gave her a good little break during the shutdown and it’s paid off. She’s returned great.”
Tone Deaf exits box four for Monday night’s affair, quoted in early betting at $1.50.
And Moate’s chances in the race don’t end with the favourite either, with Tsunami Fire considered one of the outsiders at $18 in betting from box three.
“He’s trained off a bit and I’m not totally sure why,” Moate offered.
“I’ll see where he’s at tonight, but he does have ability. But if Tone Deaf steps cleanly she’ll beat him easy I’d say.”
Rounding out Moate’s runners for the night is Crisis Point in race seven before Mantha Lee steps out as a short-priced elect in race 10 over the 278 metres.
Victorious at five of her 11 starts, Mantha Lee, a sister to Tone Deaf, has drawn box two, fresh off her dazzling 19.57 win in Hobart last Thursday over the 340m, extending her winning sequence to three on the bounce.
“You won’t get rich backing her either,” Moate said.
“She’s run 19.30 at Hobart over the 340m which is flying, and you’d think if she begins she’ll be hard to beat tonight. It’s her first Launceston start but she has been there before.
“And with Crisis Point she’s not the worst chance either. She’s not that big and goes looking for the fence. If she draws inside soon, I expect her to run a decent race.”
The first race in Launceston on Monday night gets underway at 19:30.
Watch the replay of Tone Deaf winning in Hobart last Thursday.