Launceston hosted the Newmarket Handicap meeting on Wednesday night and delivered a perfect night on a perfect Good 4 surface which gave every horse their chance. Hellova Street went back to back in the major race in the 2nd fastest 1200m race since the Strathayr was laid on a night where fast times were the norm yet horses could win from anywhere. 8 different trainers took home a winner from the 8 race card, while apprentice Victor Wong took the honours in a very competitive night for the jockeys with a double.
Race 1 6:07pm Electro Rewind Maiden Plate (1200m)
Commanding Dash broke through for a much deserved maiden win after a couple of good 2nds at her previous two runs. Boris Thornton rated the mare nicely early to cross the field from her wide gate without doing too much work and pinched a breather down the side to enable her to run home in the 2nd fastest last 400m split of the race. She put in a quick dash on turning and always had the race in her control from then on. The overall time was quite plain on a night where fast times were run so that’s a query as she now steps up in grade but her ability to race on the speed will give her a chance in suitable races at the next level.
Gee Gees Talk Fest was much improved when resuming last time and continued that improvement here with a handy 2nd. Well ridden by Damien Thornton, she enjoyed a good run right behind the speed and was strong on the line with the fastest last 200m of the race. She is knocking on the door and may be suited stepping up to 1400m controlling the tempo near the lead. Chelsarli ran an honest race for 3rd after box seating, just in front of Chill Winston who loomed up from back in the field but couldn’t run over the on pacers who got that mid-race breather. Favourite Olly’s A Star was well backed ($4.60 to $3.40) but Anthony Darmanin had no luck at all from the inside gate and continued to find dead ends. His run was fine under the circumstances and can be forgiven.
Race 2 6:45pm Riverview Hotel Class 2 Handicap (1400m)
Stella Etoile has been somewhat of a “Stridemaster darling” of recent times, continually rattling home in her races in fast late sectionals but never getting things her way to land the major prize. The tide finally turned here however as she appreciated the strong tempo and stormed home to win convincingly in good time. The inside barrier helped her save her energy early and replacement rider Victor Wong navigated the field perfectly to switch off heels on straightening and charge down the middle to score. She again ran super late splits, including the 2nd fastest last 200 of the meeting, and has the finish to compete at the higher grades when the breaks go her way.
Sentry Duty landed in a good spot just behind the speed for Jason Lyon and ran a good race for 2nd although no match for the winner. Mikayla’s Raider was a tough effort in 3rd and was the best of the on pacers after racing outside the leader throughout. Treasury Bond was ok first up, Just Run ran well despite being caught wide again, and the run of Luxembourg can be forgiven after he got chopped out of a run down on the fence in the straight. This looks like being a good form race for the future.
Race 3 7:20pm Cuccina Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m)
Valdez was well backed ($4.40 to $3.20) to start a warm favourite after his last start 2nd and despite some nervous times around the turn he showed his class to win well. He was a little flat footed without much room when the sprint was on around the corner but he was very strong when clear in the straight and powered to the lead near the line, running top 7 last 400m and 200m splits for the meeting. It was the run of a strong stayer and he looks at least a major player in the upcoming minor cups, if not the major Hobart and Launceston cups. He still has improving to do but he’s on the up and hasn’t put a foot wrong this prep.
Lingo was a sensational run from the back in a race which didn’t really suit the backmarkers. Ridden a treat by Raquel Clark, who was able to track up behind them and get into the clear in the straight, he rattled home for 2nd with top 3 splits for the last 600, 400 and 200m sections. He looks spot on for the upcoming Devonport features. Fund Trader was a very tough effort in 3rd, sitting 3 wide throughout and only being grabbed the last bit. Racing outside horses is his go but with a bit of luck slotting in early he may well have held the challengers at bay late. No reason to jump off him the way he’s going. Ryan’s Daughter was again disappointing on face value finishing 9th, however she was left with far too much to do from last and ran home in nearly identical time to Lingo. She’s still going well enough for when she strikes a suitable race.
Race 4 7:57pm Southern Cross Class 1 Handicap (1200m)
Watch Over Me was heavily backed from $5.50 to start a $3.70 favourite and gave nothing else a chance with an all-the-way win for Raquel Clark. A half-sister to impressive Flemington winner Palentino, she appreciated the light weight and an easier race than she had previously been finding to win comfortably in reasonable time. Clark again showed her ability to rate a leader well, going fast enough early to lead unchallenged but keeping a kick for the top of the straight and the rest couldn’t get near her. Harder next time up in grade but did enough here to suggest she will be competitive again and does have the ability to race with a sit also.
Rougeau was extremely unfancied for his first Tasmanian run, drifting to start $51, but after doing a bit of work early to sit outside the lead he stuck to his task well and even finished off with a top 10 last 200m split. He looks more than capable of winning in this grade on that effort. Peace Keeper had a nice enough run in behind and held his spot to the line for 3rd and continues to develop.
Race 5 8:37pm Kevin Sharkie Newmarket Handicap (1200m)
Hellova Street stamped his status as the best sprinter in the state with the toughest of wins in a race of brutal tempo. Victorian jockey Dean Holland again rode him to perfection as he did last year, electing to take the sit when Merrick’s Beauty wanted to push on and that proved a winning move. To put things in perspective, race leader Geegees Doublejay was 4 lengths faster than runaway leader Concrete Johnny in the following race, so it’s no surprise the overall time was the second fastest in this track’s history, just behind last year’s time. The effort of Hellova Street to sit just behind this tempo and still break 12 seconds for his last 200m is indicative of the sustained speed he can show and his strength at the end of his races. His attempts at longer trips in WFA last season were below his best but were at the end of a long campaign so he should still be a major player if they elect to stretch him out over the next month.
Geegees Doublejay was ridden for speed and speed he showed, running a blistering 10.24 seconds from the 1000m to the 800m to lead, and that effort just told in the late stages. Still, he was an excellent effort and proved he is right up to the best horses in the state. Erin’s Element was the shock of the race, flying home from last to dead heat with Geegees Doublejay for 2nd and running the fastest last 800m and 600m splits of the meeting. While she looked outclassed prior to the race, she showed just how good she can finish off when ridden quiet with cover behind a hot speed and that run puts her right into calculations for a race like the Bow Mistress later in the carnival.
Plenty of good runs among those unplaced. Admiral is clearly the talking point – he was travelling sweetly behind the leaders coming to the bend and Brendon McCoull elected to go inside to take a run up the inside of the leader. Whether the run was there or not is a discussion in itself but the run closed and he had to be checked, ending any chance he had. No doubt he would have been in the finish if he got the run but we’ll never know if he would have won or not. The positive is he apparently pulled up well and heads to the WFA races now where increased distances and WFA are only in his favour. Valiant Warrior ran a much better race with blinkers on to finish a close up 4th from his wide gate, while Streetwise Savoire rattled home again and is right on target for a good WFA campaign. Red Eagle also ran out of his skin to be beaten just over 2 lengths and looks on track for another Devonport Cup tilt.
Race 6 9:15pm McCrimmon Insurance Benchmark 82 Handicap (1200m)
Gee Gees Style has been racing like a new horse since joining Team Wells and ran another gutsy race here to stick his nose out right on the line to get the prize. Having won just 3 of his 42 starts prior to changing stables, he has now won 3 of his past 6 as well as proving here he has what it takes to run a strong 1200m. No doubt his light weight proved the difference over the closing stages but he did all the work taking the field to the tearaway leader and was duly rewarded. His new versatility to race well just behind a fast tempo or take control if things are slower should hold him in good stead in this grade until the handicapper catches up to him.
Concrete Johnny has reinvented himself this preparation and again ran a super honest race to only just fail late. He again broke 22 seconds from the 800m to the 400m to utilise his tremendous mid-race cruising speed, which he can show when allowed to lead comfortably. The tactics by Brendon McCoull to use this asset were spot on and it would have been cruel for his backers and connections to see him nailed right on the line. Spirit Of Nia ran home with Gee Gees Style and wasn’t beaten far herself in an excellent first up effort. Providing this run hasn’t taken too much out of her, she looks in for another good prep as the distances get a little longer.
Race 7 9:55pm Carey Distribution Maiden/Class 1 Plate (2100m)
Angie Sparkles broke through for her maiden win here, appreciating a tempo that was the fastest seen in a 2100m race this season to come from last and score convincingly. Thanks to the fast pace the overall time was very good, but her effort to run home her last 200m in 11.60 seconds – the 5th fastest of the whole meeting – was quite incredible considering how many good sprinters we saw at this meeting. Another win in this grade will come sooner rather than later if she can maintain this form and she can have a good preparation at the staying trips.
Steven’s Wonder ran a good race for 2nd courtesy of a perfect Kyle Maskiell ride but had no answer to the winner’s big finish late. 33 starts without a win doesn’t make him the most attractive betting proposition but his five career runs at this distance range have all been good enough to say he will break through one day when the breaks go his way. Dropaclanger was given every chance by Damien Thornton but didn’t have the sprint of the winner and worked home into 3rd.
Race 8 10:30pm Legal Solutions Benchmark 62 Handicap (1200m)
Gee Gee Red Prince sent a lot of punters home on a winning note in this, firming from $4.50 into $3.60 and proving too strong for his fellow smart 3yo Siorca. He took a nice sit behind Difrent before finding a bit of trouble down the side, but he was able to shake that off and really kicked off the bend to pinch a break and held it right to the line. His overall time was good and he looks a 3yo with a big future.
Siorca was resuming here and stuck to his task well considering he pushed out early down the side and made a quick mid-race move to challenge on turning. He just found the winner a bit sharp for him around the bend and was unable to pick him up. He would have lost no admirers with that effort and with talk of the Guineas and Derby in his sights there’s no doubt he has more improvement left in him and looks set for a good campaign. This pair of 3yos were clearly too good for the rest of this field, with Fillout The Ticket running home alright for 3rd and Settler’s Joy a pleasing return in 4th. Bella Venus was unfancied in betting ($3 out to $5) and ran accordingly so she may have needed the run first up.