In Brief
- Stable apprentice has first race ride.
- Bar plates no issue for War Correspondent.
- King Island runners can make an impression.
It will be an exciting day for trainer Glenn Stevenson in Devonport on Sunday with his team of five not only containing several strong winning chances, but also his stable apprentice Codi Jordan will have her first race ride.
Jordan has been with Stevenson for around 15 months, and the trainer is glowing of her work ethic.
“She’s just a great person, she works hard, she rides for other people as well, her work ethic is fantastic.
“It will be nice for her to start riding, she’s ready I think and hopefully everything goes to plan,” said Stevenson who has given Jordan the ride on former King Island galloper Stanfield Carus who finished second at his first Devonport run a week ago.
The five-year-old gelding is one of two new additions for Stevenson bringing King Island form, and the trainer thinks both horses have the potential to win races for him.
“Stanfield Carus, I think he will get a nice 1800-2000 (metres). He has pulled up enormous from last week and he will be coming home hard.
“Valcurl is a dirty winded thing but I’ve learned a bit about him,” explained the trainer about Valcurl who is entered into the last race of the day having won both trials he has competed in.
Stevenson’s best winning chance on Sunday looks to be three-year-old gelding War Correspondent who finished second at his only career start back in June and has found a thin maiden to resume in.
Bar plates are a noteworthy gear addition and one that most punters generally view as a negative, but the trainer isn’t perturbed, adding that the gelding had bar plates on when running second in a recent trial.
“When he ran second first-up he put a slice in the back of his heel.
“But there are no issues with his feet or his heel now, they (bar plates) are just there for support.”
Ancona and Skip Town Mike round out Stevenson’s runners on Sunday, both having a stable change since last start owing to previous trainer Mark Ganderton currently being disqualified from holding his trainer’s licence.
Ancona was scratched last Sunday from a 1350m race and rises to 1650m this week, but the trainer says the six-year-old has had plenty of work and if anything is coming to the end of his preparation despite having only one career start.
“He’s done plenty of work, he’s been in work for a long time. The mile won’t worry him.”
Skip Town Mike is a horse that Stevenson has previously had success with and is another rising from the 1350m to 1650m on Sunday.
“On his work Tuesday and Thursday, he looks a lot tighter than his run the other week and his coat looks magnificent. He should be thereabouts.”
Watch the replay of War Correspondent finishing second on debut in June.