3 minute read

Trainer Leanne Gaffney takes a small team of five to the meeting in Devonport on Sunday and she is confident all her runners will make an impact.

In Brief

• Gaffney takes five winning hopes to Devonport on Sunday.
• Endured and Miss Excess could quinella race five.
• Artuso deserves chance at open com

Gaffney saddles up two contenders in the Tasmanian Horse Transport Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1350m in consistent mares Endured and Miss Excess.

Endured won first-up on her home track in Devonport and has notched two seconds from her past three starts.

"Endured is a very strong mare that is in good form and if she can get the right run in the race, she will be very hard to beat.

"She doesn't have a sprint at the end of her races, so to speak, but her strength is her big asset.

"The owner of Miss Excess is keen to get the mare over 1880m, but I believe she will be well suited to this race over 1350m, and I would be disappointed if she didn't finish top three."

Gaffney saddles up Crackerjack Lady in race six, a class one handicap over 1150m and she comes off a last-start fifth in Devonport (1150m) when only two lengths from the winner Need a Gin.

Crackerjack Lady was expected to lead last start from gate one, but the rider was unable to follow those instructions but if she can be ridden how Gaffney wants on Sunday, the others will know she's about at the business end, according to the trainer.

Gaffney's talented mare Aragon Star lines up as top weight in race seven, the Levendi Standing at Broadmarsh Stud BM60 over 1150m and Gaffney is very upbeat about her winning chances.

"Aragon Star is a big, strong mare that needs plenty of galloping room and last start she was knocked off balance and hit herself behind that forced to her to go off-stride and it was costly, in terms of where she finished (eighth of 14).

"So, drawing wide (11) won't be a disadvantage because she'll have clear racing room and that's all she'll need to run a big race."

The stable closes the day (race 8) with last start winner Artuso that faces open company for the first time in a handicap over 1150m.

"Artuso deserves the chance to be tested in top grade because he's been racing in top form and I'm sure he will give a good account despite the rise in class."