3 minute read
Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson wants the Schweppes Tasmanian Derby to be run at a genuine speed, so he will be instructing the rider of his candidate, Turk Delight, to make sure of that outcome in the $150,000 staying event over 2200 metres in Hobart on Friday.
In Brief
- Trainer Glenn Stevenson wants the Derby to be an honestly run race.
- Turk Delight always showed staying potential.
- Swoop Dog still the one to beat
A field of 11 will contest the Derby of which five are from interstate.
Turk Delight hasn't won this preparation, but Stevenson has always declared the gelded son of Mawingo was bred to stay and he has shown enough at his three runs this time in to suggest he will be suited by the Derby trip.
"I've said all along Turk Delight is a potential stayer and he's done nothing to change my mind this preparation," Stevenson evenson said.
Turk Delight has drawn barrier one in the Derby and that has played into Stevenson's hand.
"From the inside gate my horse can go forward and he can lead or sit outside the lead, but whatever the case, we can ensure the pace is solid and the race won't be run at a hacking tempo like the Launceston Guineas (2100m) two weeks ago.
"I want it to be a true staying test in the Derby and that way the best stayer should win the race, and I'm banking on my horse filling that role."
Bookmakers have installed star local three-year-old Swoop Dog, from the John Blacker stable, the $1.70 favourite, which is a ridiculous price given the presence of five interstate raiders, of which four have won over the Derby trip or beyond.
Turk Delight is an outsider at $41.
Swoop Dog has impressed in winning the Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) and the Launceston Guineas over 2100m last start.
But the Ciaron Maher-trained Explosive Jack ($5.50) is a last-start winner over 2400m at Kembla Grange while the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable has two entries in Alloway ($5.50) and Bury Road ($11) and both have been tried over 2000 metres with Bury Road a last-start winner over 2040m at Benalla.
The Matthew Ellerton and Mark Zahra stable has Cranbourne Maiden (1600m) winner Pepper's Ghost ($31) engaged and he too has teen touted as a promising stayer, while the Amy and Ash Yargi-trained Mystery Bad Guy ($17) is given some each-way chance.
The Tasmanian Derby will be run at 18:24 as race seven on the eight-race card with the first race scheduled to start at 2.33pm.
