3 minute read
Wesley Vale trainer Glen Stevenson is hoping a significant gear changer can enhance the chances of his gelding Rising Hsaing registering his fifth win in succession, in Devonport on Sunday.
Rising Hsaing wore blinkers last start and despite racing fiercely throughout, the former King Islander was still too good for his opposition in a benchmark 60handicap over 1350 metres.
"I've taken a punt and whipped the blinkers off because they just fired him up too much last time and it almost brought about his undoing," Glen Stevenson said.
"I'm hoping without blinkers he will relax more and if that happens, I expect him to be very hard to beat."
Rising Hsaing has won all his Devonport starts with stable apprentice Codi Jordan aboard and she will be banking on the gelded son of Reward for Effort delivering the goods again to help her reduce the margin Kyle Maskiell who leads in the race for the apprentices' premiership.
Jordan has accrued 31 wins and is still seven behind Maskiell, who is suspended and won't ride again until next season.
Jordan is also aboard High Maintenance for her master in the last race on the nine-event card, the Leigh Jordan One Agency Collins Real Estate Benchmark 78 over 1650m.
High Maintenance is aiming to make it four wins in succession and despite rising sharply in grade, the gelding gains a significant weight advantage, with Jordan's two-kilogram claim allowing the gelding to lug only 52.5 kilograms.
"High Maintenance is in top form and, even though this is a much tougher race in terms if rating, he meets a couple of his rivals from last start (Ocean Essence and Underplay) way better at the weights."
Stevenson also expects forward showings from Rhyme Writer in the 0-60 handicap (race 4) despite a wide barrier, and Lesnar in the benchmark 78 over 1150m (race 7). Overplay will also be saddled up by Stevenson in the BM78, but he says the gelding might need the run.
The best bet on the nine-race program looks to be the Ken and Tanya Hanson-trained And Beyond, aiming to keep his unbeaten record intact at his fifth start.
And Beyond won three in Tasmania before venturing to Melbourne where he scored a game win at Sandown.
Jason Maskiell was to have returned to Tasmania for the ride on Sunday but the COVID outbreak in Victoria has prevented him from making the trip, so connections have booked the in-form Daniel Ganderton who is fresh from a riding double in Devonport last Sunday.
