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Thoroughbred racing is in Hobart on Sunday where an eight-race program will show the outstanding drainage of the new track following significant rainfall during the week. With a solid forecast for the weekend it would be a surprise to see the track race any worse than a soft 5 and it’s possible it may race better than that.
Small fields are a feature of the day with just 65 acceptors and it shapes to be another big one for the Seven Mile Beach team of Scott Brunton and Tegan Keys who dominated the meeting here a fortnight ago.
The rail is in the +10m position on Sunday, a position that has only been used once previously on 4 March 2020 which was the third meeting held on the re-developed track.
R1 St. Virgil's Old Scholars Football Club 2yo Hcp, 1100m
FIGHTING STYX (6) brings easily the best form of the raced brigade. She disappointed compared to market expectation at her first two starts and went very wide on the track last start after a short spell. With Codi Jordan's claim she'll have a lot of weight relief from the males on debut. GEEGEELUCKYSTAR (2) narrowly defeated SPELLING BEE (3) in their recent Hobart trial and both horses appeared to have a bit in hand. Siggy Carr sticks with the Wordsmith gelding and 2YO's often run well for her.
R2 Kim Boyer Life Member Maiden, 1200m
A few of these horses were scratched on Wednesday night from the maiden won by Twee, the main one being ESSEX (8). That was a 1400m race so interestingly John Blacker chooses to remain at 1200m third-up and bring the filly for her first look at the Hobart track. She was good last time and finds a maiden with questionable depth. YARRA MASTER (1) is a 4YO on debut who chased a winner of multiple races in his trial. NINTH ANGEL (6) drew inside gates at both of her previous starts and that wasn't the place to be in Hobart at the time. She's 249 days between runs and without a rider named at the time of writing. TINY TIMMY (5) closed well enough from towards the back last time and was in a hot maiden the start prior. OCEAN ORPHAN (9) can strip fitter and should hold a forward position in a race lacking an obvious leader.
R3 Tasmanian Bloodstock - Become A Member Class 1 Hcp, 1400m
BORIS THE BLADE (1) ran the race on his terms last time when breaking through for a maiden win. He'll be on speed again but does give weight to the field, particularly with all except one other runner having apprentices engaged. One of those is HERMAN'S BELLS (2) who is having his seventh run in a campaign that has returned three placings without a win. He was forced to work in the lead over a mile last time and felt the pinch in the home straight. It will be interesting to see whether Mikaela Lawrence wants to hold the front here or have something to chase. GEE GEE DOUBLE HOT (5) was the best of the closers in a race where LITTLE HOT MISSILE (3) was also back and neither had any chance given the pace set by the leader. DINGA'S DELIGHT (4) isn't firing this preparation and must be testing the patience of followers.
R4 Tasmanian Bloodstock Benchmark 74 Hcp, 1400m
The unbeaten HELA (3) resumes after a brief let-up since her dominant Strutt Stakes win. She's on a path to the Australasian Oaks and she should be too good for this field even dropping significantly in distance. RUNAWAY GIRL (4) was no match for a heavily backed stablemate to open the day here a fortnight ago but narrowly held second ahead of MANILENYA (5) who was held up behind a tiring THE MASTER SPEED (2) in that race. CREATIVE HERO (1) was scratched from a mile race on Wednesday night but this perhaps looks even less suitable given his previous start was over 2100m and he was strong through the line there.
R5 Cam Sorell Life Member Mdn/cl1, 1600m
Brunton pair TRAVELLING GIGOLO (8) and VIDEMANETTE (4) caught the eye finishing behind Dunmining in the same class of race last start. The former savaged the line from a hopeless position on the home turn while Videmanette was three-wide for the trip. Blinkers go on the 3YO gelding which may enable him to settle a little closer in the run. HOT RELATION (2) didn't shirk the task when rising in distance for the first-time last start. He jumps again to 1600m here but this looks much easier given what Boom Dot Com did on Wednesday night. BOLD MAGIC (3) found a weak maiden to open his account in at Launceston and is likely to find this much harder. SIGNAL HILL (12) and HOBART (7) were ok behind Boris the Blade last start and that form will be tested earlier in the day.
R6 Hobart Events Benchmark 66 Hcp, 2100m
SO ASTOUNDING (2) enjoyed the run of the race but finished well last time in Launceston. That race was run to suit the leaders which gave no chance to STORMONT (1) who settled last on the rail. There was little between the pair when they met two starts back on Launceston Cup day and they'll be close in the betting again. RODESSA (5) was scratched from a shorter race on Wednesday. 2100m is her go and she was decent here on Hobart Cup day. ENCOSTA FIORENTE (4) never saw clear daylight two starts ago in the same race that the main pair ran in. She dropped back to 1400m after that and didn't get warm at the tail of the field. It would be ironic if SIR DA VINCI (3) finally broke his maiden in a BM66, seemingly having far easier chances to win a race than this.
R7 Tasmanian Bloodstock Open Hcp, 1100m
GEEGEE TRENDSETTER (4) resumes having finished in the quinella in four of six first-up runs. She enjoys racing in Hobart, particularly over this distance and seems to handle all surfaces. She won a trial in very slow time beating LIM'S CRUISER (1). The former Singapore G1 winner was fair in the Royal Rambo but raced to me like he'll be better at 1400m at this stage of his career rather than dropping back to 1100m. APRIANO (5) was the first of three runners home who come via the BM84 won by Balearic. He looked the winner there but just struggled at the end of 1200m with this distance more preferred. GEE GEE DOUBLE DEE (3) was poor there but is another who is better over 1100m and meets both Apriano and GEE GEE TRUE STORY (6) better at the weights with Peter Lui taking the ride.
R8 Ladbrokes Benchmark 66 Hcp, 1100m
ALGERNON (1) is a perfect two from two in Hobart with both of those wins coming first-up, the scenario he faces on Sunday. He's been ridden forward at every start but has the widest draw and 3kg more than he has ever carried so tactics will be interesting. HEAVENLY LIGHT (5) has returned to Tasmania after a stint interstate with Richard Laming. She has good early pace and tuned up with a dominant trial win over maiden galloper Yarra Master who runs earlier in the day. GEE GEE BAY WATCH (7) is another who caught the eye at the trials, he had the fastest time of the session on 16 March. He won two of his first five starts but hasn't tasted victory since August 2019. LOKI PATERA (2) is an on-pace bulldog who will prefer any sting out of the track. TROJAN STORM (4) is consistent but another who has been a long time out of the winner's stall.
