3 minute read
The 2020/21 thoroughbred season concludes in Hobart on Sunday where eight races will be run.
It should be a day of celebration for trainer Scott Brunton and jockey David Pires who have their respective premierships in the bag and are expected to again have a big day on Sunday. Over half of Brunton's 90 winners for the season have come in Hobart, while Pires has a staggering 35.7% winning strike rate at the track across the same period.
The rail is in the +4m position on Sunday, one that hasn't been used at the re-developed track previously and I wouldn't expect the surface to race any worse than the soft 5 it's rated on Friday morning.
R1 Hygain Benchmark 78 Hcp, 1400m
SAVS FINALE (3) atoned for a defeat by the narrowest of margins two starts ago with a win last time out. He meets similar opposition but rises 1.5kg and none of his seven wins have come past 1200m. RUETTIGER (1) raced in the part of the track that most wanted to avoid in that race, so his run was full of merit and JEREMIAH (2) closed well for a Brunton trifecta. Jeremiah should strip fitter second-up. FLOURISHING FUTURE (7) looks the leader and always gives cheek when that's the case. GALWAY GIRL (4) was awful at her only Hobart appearance but has run second three times since then. She should appreciate getting some weight off her back with in-form Erica Byrne Burke having the ride.
R2 Join Formplus Pro Today Maiden, 1400m
I’M BACK (2) wasn't the same horse last time that ran a good third in a strong maiden the start prior. Respecting the fact he was $2.15 favourite last start, it's fair to expect a bounce back performance. THE EXECUTIVE (6) put in a career best effort last start, running home well to grab second. He looks to be a horse that will get over ground in time. UNDER HIS EYE (7) was hard up on the rail in front at his first Hobart run, a place that few riders wanted to be on the day. TASSIE O’REILLY (5) had good support in the same race but was plain after racing outside the speed and must be starting to test the patience of followers. ENCOSTA TORONADO (1) comes through the same race as several rivals and ran much better than his SP there. OROMOCTO (3) gets winkers on for his second Tassie start following a run where the best part of his race was the finish.
R3 Ladbrokes 2yo Hcp, 1100m
COUER DE LYON (1) has been super in two Devonport runs this campaign, just finding the smart Alpine Wolf too good last time. If he runs up to that performance, whatever beats him will be winning. NEUTRALIZE (8) was third in that race but meets the topweight 2kg worse. You would expect she'll be better on her home track, and she did beat Coeur De Lyon home in a Hobart meeting much earlier in the season. Scott Brunton has three first starters here, all showing enough at the trials to suggest they can run well. There was nothing between MOVE LIKE JAGGER (2) and REAL BRAZEN (4) when they clashed in June. Perhaps a lead can be taken from Pires riding the gelding. VERBANO (5) was a $20,000 purchase who trialled alongside Nicco the Greek and looks a strong chance in the following race.
R4 Hygain Maiden, 1200m
KEEPER’S TOUCH (1) was a drifter upon resumption but put in a good effort after being caught wide. He was trapped off the track on debut as well but has a low draw here. NICCO THE GREEK (7) has put in a pair of nice trials in readiness for his debut. He's a late season 2YO and Pires has the ride in a race where the stable has three good chances including SPICEWOOD (10) who led them up last time and boxed on for a placing. POWERFUL PEBBLES (9) has finished strongly at her only two starts but settled too far back to run into the money. PONTIAN EAGLE (8) put in a reasonable trial in good time for the day. VELINO (3) wasn't bad here two starts ago against a few rivals in this field, before a poor run in Devonport.
R5 Formplus Pro Plans Benchmark 66 Hcp, 1200m
KUROSET (3) is going for her third straight win this campaign, all in this grade. She's up 4.5kg since her first-up victory but it still feels like the handicapper hasn't really gotten hold of her. Stablemate BRINKTOP LAD (5) is another chasing a hat-trick of wins having quickly moved past his maiden and class 1. Big watch on how the inside is holding up given the low draw. GEE GEES DARL (8) and DON’TBUCKME OFF (2) both appeared the winner at different stages but rounded out the trifecta behind Kuroset. They have a 2kg swing in their favour. RAVAGE (7) also comes through that race where he was a closing fourth but was plain at the T&D the start prior. PAION (1) resumes with a trial under the belt and decent first-up form but hasn't run over this distance since November 2019. STRATEGIC AGENDA (10) wasn't far away last time she raced here and GYMPINS (9) is always some chance if she steps cleanly from the machines.
R6 Tasracingtv Live Stream Class 1 Hcp, 1400m
RISING LIGHT (2) ran right up to an impressive trial performance first-up, covering ground in the run before finishing third. He'll rise 4.5kg from that run though, the 59kg he'll carry is 2kg more than any of his previous six starts. PUNK PRINCESS (8) comes through the same Devonport race and has a big weight swing with the use of a claiming rider. NEV’S BOY (1) was an impressive last start winner, and that form is tested earlier in the day. ROBBEN ISLAND (7) isn't proven at the distance but looks to find a race where she can potentially find the front with little weight on her back. SEGUIMIENTOS (10) is ready to win another race but that's been the case for a while with only one win from 24 starts. SUNSET GUN (5) and LE MONDE DE LUCAS (3) drop back from a mile but haven't been far away in this class of late.
R7 Ladbrokes Easy Form Benchmark 66 Hcp, 1600m
BORN MAGIC (3) was smashed in betting late last time and subsequently returned to form but found one in the same colours too tough late. She looks to have an opportunity to control from the front here. SHAMPZ AGAIN (1) was in the same race, never able to get warm from back in a race dominated on-speed. There's a 7kg weight swing between those two horses due to the use of claimers. OFF PEAK (7) has the same formline, boxing on for third after racing in the leading division. WE DESERVE THIS (2) has picked off two in a row and now tackles his biggest test. He should get every opportunity, stalking the speed as he has in his two wins. DUNMINING (4) was excellent at 1200m first-up, then expectedly found 1100m not to her liking. She's sharply up in distance now but this is her pet trip. Wetter the better for REANN’S DIAMOND (6) who has a shocking synthetic record.
R8 Aviso Tas Benchmark 78 Hcp, 2100m
LA DERNIER FILLE (2) looked to have the race shot to pieces at this T&D last time but had to settle for a dead heat with IRISH SHOTGUN (4) who led and kicked back when headed. The mare was half the price that day, but it was a four-horse field and little more than a sprint home, so it's difficult to know what to make of that race. ODIN’S FOLLY (1) put together a string of good runs in races like this towards the end of 2020. She's struggled as the racing moved from Launceston and getting up in the weights, but if she obtains a soft lead, she may take getting past. HUNCH (3) didn't appear to run out the mile in Devonport when having every chance so the rise in distance must be a query off that. TEEJAY FRANKIE (5) has been a bit better at his past couple and gets to the staying trip for the first time this campaign. ENCOSTA FIORENTE (7) was poor last time but can easily return to form with the strength of that race tested earlier in the day.
