Tasracing

Saturday’s Listed Ladbrokes Tasmanian Guineas sees the majority of the field step-up past 1400 metres for the first time. The 3YO Trophy won on 18 December by Mystical Pursuit is the main form reference for the race, with six of the nine runners coming out of that race.

The speed map isn’t entirely clear, we saw Still A Star and Mystical Pursuit get right back in the 3YO Trophy, but that isn’t their usual racing pattern. Our Little Ted and Teejay Frankie look a pair that can push forward, while Set Play is another that can be aggressive early from a wide draw.

1. Heaven’s Bonus (4) – Assessed Price $4.00

After finding 1100m too sharp to open the campaign, the gelding has been gallant in defeat at two subsequent outings, being caught three-wide over 1200m and held up at key stages last start in the 3YO Trophy. Bulent Buhcu has the ideal gate to land in the front half of the field, and the horse has always given the impression extra ground will suit.

2. Set Play (7) – Assessed Price $40.00

He found a good spot shortly after leaving the gates in the 3YO Trophy but was shuffled back and after getting some interference before the home turn, didn’t really finish the race off. His run in the 3YO Cup wasn’t far off the main chances here though, and from an awkward alley, Siggy Carr may look to push forward.

3. Argyle Beach (8) – Assessed Price $25.00

Settled last in the 3YO Trophy and ran home strongly, albeit a long way off the placegetters. All his runs this campaign have suggested he will be best at a mile and beyond, and we finally get to see that here.

4. Mywordis (3) – Assessed Price $100.00

He has started $81.00 and $91.00 at each of his last two starts taking on the cream of the three-year-old crop so it’s fair to assume he will go around a big price here after only beating a few home at each occasion.

5. Our Little Ted (2) – Assessed Price $75.00

He drops back to take on his own age after tackling the older horses with mixed success at his last two starts. Draws towards the inside in a race lacking an obvious leader, so Ismail Toker may look to be aggressive early, and he has a mile run under the belt which isn’t the case for most of the field.

6. Teejay Frankie (5) – Assessed Price $60.00

He looked as if he’d won his maiden last start but was just edged out by Seguimientos in a race that has produced subsequent winners Up Wind and Needs A Crown. You have to think that the 3YO Trophy may be the strongest formline, but if it isn’t Teejay Frankie has hardly put a foot wrong in three career starts.

7. Mystical Pursuit (1) – Assessed Price $3.20

She drew 11 of 11 when returning in the 3YO Trophy but has the opposite draw here coming up with gate one, so you would expect Anthony Darmanin will try and settle much closer. It was an outstanding effort by Adam Trinder to have her fit enough to win first-up over 1400m and she is yet to be defeated taking on her own age in five Tasmanian starts. While that’s the case, she’s the one they all need to knock off.

8. Still A Star (6) – Assessed Price $3.50

While she was beaten at $1.80 in the 3YO Trophy she hardly lost any admirers and finished off with the fastest last 600m sectionals of that race. Her finish over 1200m to win the 3YO Cup was devastating and while she was so brilliant over 1200m, her finish over 1400m gave every indication 1600m won’t be a problem. There doesn’t look to be much between the trifecta from the 3YO Trophy with luck in-running likely to play a part as it did in that race.

9. Speed Angel (9) – Assessed Price $20.00

The filly would have gone into many blackbooks with her return over 1400m in the race where Argyle Beach ran second. She charged home from the tail and was held-up late, being a bit unlucky to not finish in the placings. The decision to run here says that Cameron Thompson clearly has an opinion of her, but her race might be over 2100m later in the Carnival.

Matt Reid’s Ladbrokes Tasmanian Guineas market below: