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The Godolphin stable will enter a new sphere on Friday with its first starter in Tasmania.
Sheikh Mohammed’s famous blue colours will be seen in action in Friday’s $150,000 Schweppes Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Elwick.
Godolphin’s Derby runner will be the lightly raced three-year-old Cossetot, who has won two of his four starts in NSW at Hawkesbury and Canterbury.The Epaulette gelding faces a step up in distance after finishing second over 1550m at his latest start at Canterbury on January 23.
Godolphin trainer James Cummings has booked leading Tasmanian jockey Craig Newitt to ride Cossetot.Cummings has also entered the 3YO filly Rock Dove, placed at her last three starts in Victoria since winning her maiden at Cranbourne in November, for Sunday’s $100,000 Strutt Stakes (2100m) at Elwick.
Other interstate acceptors for the Tasmanian Derby include the Victorian trio Heir Of Tavistock, Twilight Run and Nero Veloce.Heir Of Tavistock is prepared by Melbourne training partners Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Twilight Run comes from the Cranbourne stables of Kevin Corstens and Nero Veloce is also trained at Cranbourne by Matthew Brown.
Heir Of Tavistock (Damien Thornton) recorded his first win in a Cranbourne maiden over 1600m on December 28 before a last start fourth over 2000m at Flemington on January 19.Twilight Run (Liam Riordan) comes off a last start win in a maiden over 1700m at Geelong on January 27 at only his fourth career start.
Nero Veloce (Dean Yendall) is still a maiden but was placed over 1900m at Kilmore in November and resumed with a fourth over 1514m at Yarra Valley on January 26.Leading interstate stables are well represented in Friday’s $150,000 Bow Mistress Trophy (1200m) for fillies and mares.
The Victorian pair Bellaria, trained by John Sadler, and Miss Norway from the Leon and Troy Corstens stable, will pose big threats to the local contingent.Tasmanian trainer Adam Trinder will also saddle up recent Caulfield winner Twitchy Frank following her transfer from the Darren Weir stable.
Trinder will start Tasmania’s best filly Mystic Journey against older rivals in Sunday’s $100,000 Thomas Lyons Stakes over 1400m as he says the race is a better fit for the 3YO as she prepares for the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2.