In Brief
- Stevenson's three-year-old too tough for rivals.
- First-up effort War Correspondent's best.
- 3YO Classic next on gelding's agenda.
Talented three-year-old War Correspondent had to call on all his courage to emerge triumphant in the Carbine Club Plate over 1100m in Hobart on Friday.
The Glenn Stevenson-trained gelding settled second on the outside of Thunberg ($5.50) that made the most of the inside gate to lead and the pair matched motors to the home turn.
Thunberg found when asked for an effort by David Pires but under strong riding from Ismail Toker, War Correspondent ($1.55 fav) refused to wilt and gained the upper hand close to home to score by a long neck.
Gee Gee Josie ($8.50) ran home well to grab third ahead of Le Cadeau ($9.50) who loomed to win 200m out but knocked-up over the concluding stages.
Stevenson was delighted with his three-year-old’s effort.
“That would be his best win because he was pretty fresh going into the race and he had to all the bullocking work in the run, but that’s just him,” Stevenson said.
“He’s a real bulldog when it comes to a fight and today, he showed how strong he is.
“The run will do him the world of good and when I get him home, he will be looking for his feed bin and he won’t leave an oat.”
Stevenson has set his sights on the $50,000 3YO Classic over 1200m on Launceston Cup day as his next main mission.
“He will go to the 3YO Classic next and then I might look for a suitable race or two in Melbourne and then give him a decent break.”
Watch War Correspondent tough it out to win the Carbine Club Plate in Hobart on Friday.