3 minute read
Numbers are strong for Sunday’s program in Devonport with 97 acceptors across the nine races.
Alternating between grass and synthetic meetings appears to be having a positive impact on field quality and in turn makes for better betting races which is largely the case again this week.
R1 Thai Imperial Mdn/cl1, 1880m
Arcucci (5) was scratched from the Hobart program last Sunday but not before shortening from her opening quote. She ran far better than her price suggested last time and will obviously be much shorter here. Last week was a mile option and this is over the Devonport staying trip. Strike Impact (4) also came out of the same race a week ago. The form from his last start held up well on that program and he has a good fitness base behind him. Strawberry Kiss (7) perhaps should've finished a little closer last time, stuck behind the wrong horse when they straightened. Blinkers go on Silent Love (6) who has run some reasonable races here in recent times and was one paced to the line last start so may be looking for the longer trip.
R2 Ladbrokes Mates Mode 2yo Maiden, 1150m
Emphatic Bel (8) brings a strong SP from her only race start where she found one with race experience far too good. She showed good early speed in her trial which will be important on race day from a potentially awkward draw. He'Ll Rock It (2) comes through the same trial where he was kept under a hold. Along with stablemate Our Saturday (3) they're looking to give trainer Liandra Gray her first winner since November last year. Flying To Paris (10) had everything go wrong at her one race day outing. She was too good for Espur (9) in their trial and has the benefit of the pole draw. TURK BOY (4) didn't do a lot wrong in his trial, but it was a few lengths slower than other 2YO heats on the same day. Froland (1) and Zulu Angel (5) come out of the 1400m Sires Produce looking to claim a lucrative Tasbred bonus. Cloudy Nights (6) closed very strongly at the T&D first-up but will need to learn to settle a bit closer to be a winning hope. Elmajay (7) has been fancied by the market a few times in her career. She was trapped wide from an awful draw last time and has a much lower marble for her first synthetic run.
R3 Goodstone Group Maiden, 1150m
LACERATE (1) was a big improver second-up on his home track, able to jump on the bunny to run a good race from the front. He has a low draw, so a similar map seems likely. STARNOTE (13) was the $2.80 favourite in that race, settling midfield and finishing like the extra distance will suit. Barrier 13/13 will require clear tactics from EBB and connections chose this option over racing her own age in the previous race. ROCK 'EM BABY (12) and POP A HONDA (3) enjoyed good runs out of the same formline to finish in the prize money. The last start SP for the former was a lot shorter than the latter. BELLANIVE (6) was carried off the track in her trial, but the time was very slow. The market may provide a lead for her chances on debut. PAGE (11) resumes having been balloted from a race here a fortnight ago. She'll likely be doing her best late, as will OUR SONNY BOY (2) who has had many chances to win a Tassie maiden now. TUFFASK (4) brings ordinary form to the state but wasn't beaten far in his trial against horses better than maiden grade. HER THOUGHTS (8) hasn't been far away in similar Hobart maidens and gets the shades on for her first run on the carpet. HAMPTON STREET (7) settled miles back in her four Tassie runs last campaign, but if she can utilise the low draw isn't the worst roughie in the race.
R4 Tasmanian Horse Transport Maiden, 1350m
EIGHT MARGARITAS (5) has returned with a pair of solid second placings and has now finished second or third in five of her six career starts. She'll settle in the first couple from an ideal draw and have every chance. ALPINE AVIATOR (1) has been huge in two runs on the carpet and after settling back from a wide draw in Hobart, he was only asked for maximum effort when the result was decided. Gate 1 may enable him to at least settle midfield. ZEVA ROYALE (9) was awful here last start but she's since been to the trials where she was very good, rounding them up from the back in decent time. Connections will be hoping that RUNS LIKE WATER (8) is a better horse than she showed on debut where she failed to beat a runner home despite having solid market support. She may be worth another chance. WANE'S QUEST (4) is on the quick back-up where he wasn't far off the place money in a race where the winner brained them. He gets the blinkers on as does MOVE LIKE JAGGER (2) who was scratched from the same race last Sunday. He's been a bit disappointing on his home track in Hobart and the likely hope is that blinkers and a rise in distance can deliver a win that many would've expected to have arrived before the sixth start for the campaign. ZEWINNA (10) is another runner who accepted but didn't run on the grass a week ago. Unless there is a change of tactics with the winkers on, she'll be back and aiming to run on from a wide draw.
R5 Birdcage Tavern Bm76 Hcp, 1650m
ROCK THE BOWLER (5) was backed late as if the result was known at the T&D last time and duly won with ease. This race is a bit deeper, but he drops 3kg. FREELANCER (2) is another last start winner who got the result first-up with a well-timed ride from D.Ganderton. He hasn't missed the quinella in three previous second-up runs. SKYWAY STAR (3) jumped favourite at his most recent outing and despite failing to beat a runner home, was beaten less than a length. VALLABAR (1) was the winner that day, with Skyway Star having a 5kg swing in his favour for this meeting. Stablemates GREGORIAN CHANT (4) and RISING HSIANG (6) appear out of sorts. Rising Hsiang will likely run them along with a pair of gear changes to try and unlock his best which he hasn't shown for quite some time.
R6 Nova Design And Print Bm62 Hcp, 1650m
The recent success Glenn Stevenson has had with tried hoses has been well publicised now and another is unearthed here through OBVIOUS STEP (5). She brings NSW metro form from David Payne's stables, largely on wet tracks. The market will likely provide a big lead. INCRIMINATE (4) beat home SHAMPZ AGAIN (3) and DARGO (1) at the T&D last time but he got the wobbles badly in the straight and impeded Shampz Again. They all go up in weight for the drop in class. HOT RELATION (6) is racing in great form and his racing pattern is suited around here. He overcame a tough run to be narrowly beaten last time, with SKILENDRA (8) doing her best work from the back in the same race. KAY OH ELL (7) trialled nicely here last week and has the services of B.McCoull for her first run in almost two months. TEE JAY FRANKIE (9) led at a crawl here last time but wasn't far away in a more truly run affair the start prior. PORT BERRY (10) and SWEETSOP (12) ran the quinella at the T&D last time, but that race was around 14 lengths slower than the one that Incriminate and others come through on the same day. They'll need to prove that form isn't as weak as it looks on paper.
R7 Kevin Sharkie Class 1 Hcp, 1350m
Brendon McCoull summed up a slowly run race perfectly to deliver a maiden win for SILVER PERSUASION (7) who defied a big market drift after being short at her previous two starts. That form can be franked earlier in the day. SPIRITED TOFF (1) tired in the run to the line after leading over a mile and now drops back to a distance where he was unlucky two starts ago. QUEEN'S THE WORD (9) led throughout first-up but bombed the start last time. Clearly, she's a far better horse when striding at the front of the field. REDOLLIX (2) was a bit plain at his first Tassie start given he landed up the front in an on-pace dominated race. Stepping to 1350m perhaps gives an idea of what connections thought of that run. DADORABLE (8) comes through the same race where she hit the line well. She'll likely be giving a start from a wide draw. OLYMPIC HONOUR (5) was better than the $51 SP last time and looked after in a subsequent trial. BELMISTA (3) was a late scratching here a fortnight ago and hasn't been far away in similar races throughout his campaign.
R8 Great Northern 0 - 62, 1150m
GEE GEES CRICKET (1) was the beneficiary of a saloon passage from the inside draw to beat many of the rivals he'll face again here. He drops 0.5kg with a claimer going on but has a much worse draw. BETHPAGE (11) was the meat in an on-pace sandwich in that race and boxed on far better than the two either side of her. She also draws off the track. TERRACOTTA (5) was an eye catcher in that race and looks suited up in distance from an ideal barrier. TROJAN STORM (2) and RHYME WRITER (3) bring the same formline. They generally need the stars to align to win but certainly can't be dismissed. OUR SHINKANSEN (6) comes via the grass in Hobart where she settled too far back to be a winning in chance in both runs down there. She's unplaced in three previous runs at home but has had some excuses. Stablemate ZEGREY (7) perhaps found the hustle and bustle of 1009m a bit sharp and certainly her form for the previous stable indicates she'll be better suited at 1150m. GEE GEE RHYTHM (9) went for a break after a Hobart win in December and has been brought up to the mark with a pair of trials.
R9 Young Racing Tasmania Class 3 Hcp, 1150m
JULIUS (1) has led and been grabbed late at both starts off a long break, sent out as favourite on each occasion. Fitness shouldn't be an issue third-up and it looks like connections have opted for a tongue tie and senior rider to try and help him finish off his races. LORD WHITEGATE (4) is a last start winner in Class 1 company, but his time was actually quicker than the BM76 that Julius comes through on the same day. He was a big betting drifter that day suggesting he may have improvement. NEED TO BE UNIQUE (2) just peaked on his run in Hobart where he looked a big player at the top of the straight. That form held up well last Sunday. GEE GEE BAY WATCH (6) is a good fresh horse and has a stack of gear changes. FIGHTING FLOYD (3) is capable of a powerful finish but is likely better suited at 1350m around this track.
