3 minute read
Thoroughbred racing is back on the synthetic in Devonport on Sunday for a well-supported nine race card that has seen 97 acceptors for the program.
Irish apprentice Erica Byrne Burke is in scorching form at the moment, producing six winners from her last seven rides and while she won't be sighted until the quaddie legs on Sunday, all four of her rides are strong winning chances.
Sunday may also be the day that Codi Jordan catches Kyle Maskiell for the state's leading apprentice title, she needs two winners to tie and appears a good hope of at least landing that number.
R1 Nova Design And Print Benchmark 78 Hcp, 1880m
UP WIND (2) gets to the staying trip quickly this campaign but has nice weight relief from a first-up run over 1350m where he hit the line strongly. Leanne Gaffney has half the six acceptors so look for a market lead. POSSESSION (4) is up in grade, but this is a BM78 in name only. He drops 9kg from a win that rated well, and he had good market support. ELISAVET (3) had the last crack at UNDERPLAY (1) when they met a fortnight ago. Third-up at 1880m looks suitable for Elisavet while Underplay seems the likely leader in the race.
R2 Goodstone Group Mdn/cl1, 1880m
JUDGE BURNS (2) was flushed three-wide on the speed well before the home turn last time. He's started less than $4 at his last three starts though so the excuses are staring to run out. SARDEGNA DEEL (5) was plain on Sunday but has always been a mare that mixes her form. Her best would go close to winning. SURPRIZE EFFECT (6) and BULBASAUR (1) are on the quick back-up as well. The run of Bulbasaur had merit but his two prior Devonport runs have been awful. Surprize Effect is having his third start for Cameron Thompson and did open $5.50 two runs back. SIZZKYE (7) is a 37-start maiden that perhaps finds her best chance of breaking the duck. She's been close in deeper races than this. THE GUILTY PARTY (3) is an unknown commodity at this distance but wasn't far away on Sunday over 1400m.
R3 Ladbrokes Maiden, 1150m
JACKJACK (1) looked like the winner first-up but couldn't get past the leader and then was a bit plain from back in the field last time. There is certainly nothing resembling Freak on a Lead in this field, and he has the best exposed form in the race. GEE GEE CLOUDY BAY (6) is going better than the form reads but can't draw a gate. She'll jump from the widest draw here and they'll perhaps look to be more aggressive with the 4kg claim for Chloe Wells. RHUEZON (10) ran a good race to open her Tasmanian campaign over 1100m in Hobart, finishing around horses that would be extremely short in this race. NO MORE GIRLS (4) had specking at a price at his first run for Michael Trinder, before weakening after racing outside the speed. In a thin race he may be worth another chance with Brendon McCoull jumping aboard.
R4 Leaping Goat Coffee Maiden, 1150m
NEEDAREIN (3) backed up a nice trial with a game second first-up where he raced without cover. The winner of that race won again on Sunday and the third horse placed so that form held up well. KARNAK KID (1) was doing his best work late over 1009m and looks suited up to the longer sprint trip but has drawn off the track. RED HELMET (4) drops back from a 1350m class 1 where he was beaten just over a length, to maiden company. He makes his own luck racing on speed. HELEN'S THE BOSS (7) may be able to put herself into the race from a better draw, settling in impossible positions at her two most recent starts. BOSS CHEYENNE (6) resumes with reasonable form for a race of this quality and did start $1.80 favourite here back in January. FEISTY LION (11) over-raced in a 2YO maiden where he was sent out a $7.50 elect and now has the blinkers off so may be worth another chance .
R5 Tasmanian Horse Transport 0-60, 1150m
NEEDS TO BELONG (1) started the quaddie sub in the class 1 taken out by Ancona after the late scratching of the favourite. He finished powerfully to take second there but hasn't had much luck with the draw. TILTHEREWARSYOU (14) made a sustained run from back in the field first-up to just miss. Up to 1150m will suit. GEE GEE TOP TIP (9) is flying this campaign but always gives a big start. She ran into third last time with TROJAN STORM (3) not far behind. A senior rider goes back aboard Trojan Storm who was an impressive trial winner since his last run. Look for a market lead on TALLY MO (8) who was scratched from a wet Hobart track last Sunday to run here. SCRIBBLER (10) finished well behind a stablemate last time which suggests she can see out 1150m, but her best runs have been over shorter. Deep race where the likes of GEE GEE ROYBOY (2), WEEKEND WHISKY (4), GEE GEE BAY WATCH (5) and GEE GEE SOX (6) also can't be ruled out and I'm glad this isn't a leg of the quaddie.
R6 Carlton And United Breweries Benchmark 60 Hcp, 1650m
ENDURED (4) was dominant first-up and then grabbed on the post in a fast run race won by Possession who is in the opening race of the day. No reason she won't go close again, particularly if the form is franked. HERO OF ROMANI (1) hasn't missed the quinella in four Devonport runs since the racing shifted to the synthetic back in April. In-form apprentice Erica Byrne Burke takes the ride but her six wins to date have all come with 56kg or less. The 3YO gelding will carry 58kg here even after the claim but is well weighted given he was narrowly beaten in 66 grade with the same weight last start. PHENOMENAL DANCER (3) was kept from Hobart last Sunday to run here. She only needs to maintain form to be going close. GEEGEES ROCK OPERA (5) wasn't far off Endured last time so has obvious claims given Endured will be near the front of the market. RED FIORE (7) has been doing a power of work at the head of the field recently and has the prospect of a softer time of it here.
R7 Thai Imperial Benchmark 66 Hcp, 1009m
SHARMA RAMA (11) atoned for an unlucky first-up run with a dominant win last start and that form could be proven by this stage of the day. Stablemate MICHBAR (5) hasn't done much wrong in two runs this time in. ARTUSO (2) was caught wide and had excuses for a disappointing first-up run on paper. He has a low draw here and all five of his wins have come at the track. KOHIMA (4) and REWARD ACHIEVER (13) find a deep race to resume in but are in the mix with their best form from last campaign. Kohima appears ready off his two recent trials. GEE GEE DEVONBOY (7) has won two of his last three, both of which have come at the T&D. HANNAH'S SONG (8) may struggle to slot in from a wide gate even with her good early speed but could give a sight if she is able to cross.
R8 Kevin Sharkie Class 1 Hcp, 1350m
CHEEKY ONE (6) broke the hearts of her rivals last time and shed her maiden status in the process. She's very well weighted with the claim for Byrne Burke, getting as much as 6kg off other 3YO's at the top of the weights. That pair are DEEP KNEAD (1) and TURK DELIGHT (2). Deep Knead went to the front and kicked strongly to beat Dramazing, spacing the rest of the field. Turk Delight was always going to find 1009m to short first-up and his only win came at the T&D. GOLD CURRENT (3) has returned in good fashion. Interestingly he's never had a run over the 1350m here despite having nine runs at the track. HERMAN'S BELLS (4) is up to start 11 in a campaign that commenced back in November. He's consistent but his solitary win came on debut and Sunday will be start 25. KIPPOUI HIME (5) is another 3YO in the race and trialled up well for her return. PORT BERRY (9) doesn't have the upside of others but 1350m around here has produced her best races.
R9 Birdcage Tavern & Function Centre Benchmark 78 Hcp, 1350m
SANCTION KING (4) finished strongly to win the same grade of race three weeks ago. He stays down in the weights despite a 1.5kg penalty and with a similar run will be hard to beat again. OVERPLAY (1) caught the eye charging home late first-up, making a mockery of his $41 starting price. He's a Listed winner who may still have some good races in him being only a 6YO. GALWAY GIRL (3) dropped out to run a distant last when $2.70 favourite here last time. That was only a fortnight ago so it may be best to put a line through that and she has a 2.5kg swing in her favour for a narrow defeat behind Sanction King the start prior. DATE NIGHT (5) should lead and won't know himself with 51.5kg after carrying huge weights in easier class. Look for SUPER SWOOP (2) to be hitting the line with an eye for further later in the campaign.
