3 minute read
Three meetings remain in the current stretch of synthetic racing and punters are faced with an interesting eight-race card on Sunday.
It is a program lacking many dominant short favourites and we could see a bit of value thrown up as was the case a week ago.
R1 Unique Doors & Windows Benchmark 66 Hcp, 1150m
Interesting race to start the day. VIVILICI (4) defied a market drift to produce a powerful finish and win first-up. Four weeks between runs is likely a plan given her fresh form and she'll take holding out again. ARTUSO (1) has continuously been ridden upside down but did SP $4.40 against Vivilici two starts ago. RED LETTER LADY (5) has been tuned up against the state's best at the trials in preparation for this. The McCoull/Ryan combination struck at 27% last season. ASSARANCA (6) is another smart type resuming. Her only previous Devonport start was a victory in a very high rating maiden. RISING HSIANG (2) drops substantially in class from what he was contesting in Hobart and has a formidable Devonport record with five wins at the track.
R2 Thai Imperial Benchmark 60 Hcp, 1350m
RED HELMET (1) raced last Sunday in harder company, finishing just outside the placings. The wide gate will likely force Mehmet Ulucinar to try and lead and see if he can finish off with a big weight. NORTHERN SPIRIT (4) resumes over 1350m after getting to the staying trip last campaign. She finished nicely in her recent trial. GEE GEE BAY WATCH (3) continues to race consistently without winning. He had to cover ground last time in a race where ISKRA (6) boxed on for second after leading. The latter was scratched last Sunday from a BM66 over this distance. JOHNNY CHUTZPAH (2) has finished fourth at both starts for Gary White. He has a few gear changes, and the insider barrier is always favourable from this starting point. RHYME WRITER (5) isn't proven at this distance but had some excuses last week where he stepped slowly from the barriers.
R3 Goodstone Group Maiden, 1350m
POET WARRIOR (1) was good at his Tasmanian debut last Sunday, forced to cover ground on the home turn, he arguably wins the race if runs are swapped with the winner. The wide draw makes it tough, but this looks a nice race for him. THE BEEKEEPER (2) was fourth in the same race, ridden a little colder than he has been for most of the campaign. Claiming apprentice goes on to give him some weight relief. VAN D’ORO (8) was doing her best work late at her first appearance in the state. She maps for a good run from a low draw. HAMPTON STREET (6) is another without a lot of exposed Tassie form, but she closed well last time at a huge price. SH’BOURNE DE LAGO (7) comes via the same maiden where she found herself on speed with a bit of pressure inside and outside of her. McCoull goes on for start two. TINY TIMMY (3) was right in the market first-up but has yet to show his best form on the synthetic.
R4 Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Maiden, 1150m
The market was a sign CAMBALAGO (2) had improved with a break, and he ran right up to the market support. A repeat performance will go very close to winning again. INCRIMINATE (4) resumes from a spell after a debut campaign where he mixed his form. McCoull on is a positive indicator of a forward showing. Stablemate MYSTICAL VIXEN (14) has been scratched a couple of times since she last raced and seems to still be learning the caper. GEE GEE ENUF SPEED (13) didn't run anywhere near the $1.75 SP she was backed into first-up. She may be better ridden with a bit of cover. Both NEED TO BE UNIQUE (7) and SH’BOURNE BRANDY (10) have only had one start where neither ran up to market expectation. They were both held together in the same recent trial. MAYWYN IS THE WORD (6) and BYNANCE (8) have both changed stables and their trials indicate they can improve with the change of scenery.
R5 Kevin Sharkie Mdn/cl1, 1880m
ONE LOTTO (2) crossed the line last time with Needarein who won last Sunday. That was a slowly run race but fourth-up the 1880m should be fine, particularly with the claim giving him some weight relief. KARNAK KID (1) had to work early in the race, so it was a good effort to stick on for second place, just edging out TASSIE O’REILLY (3) last time. The lower draw for Karnak Kid is a positive. Interesting to note stable apprentice Codi Jordan isn't on either Glenn Stevenson runner, instead riding SIZZKYE (8). TURK DELIGHT (4) won at his second career start so win number two is proving hard to come by even though he's started short on several occasions. He lacks dash but comes out of a race that looks harder than what he contests here.
R6 Tasmanian Horse Transport Benchmark 60 Hcp, 1009m
GEEGEE LUCKY JESS (5) was one of the better performed 2YO's last season, just a rung or two below the very best. She resumes here with a nice trial earlier in the week where she was kept under a hold. MISS TUPPENCE (8) SP'd $1.65 here first-up but had a torrid run and subsequently faded in the straight. Adam Trinder goes for a senior rider this time which sees stable apprentice Erica Byrne Burke riding STRATEGIC AGENDA (6). From the inside gate it's hard to see the instructions being anything other than trying to lead all the way. GEE GEE GOLDENLASS (1) is back in grade as well as distance. She was a touch plain last time given she was heavily backed but is the proven runner in the field. SHAZEM (9) loves the Devonport 1009m as she showed last time with a close second at a huge price. VELINO (2) can have his form franked earlier in the day, but this looks a lot harder than that maiden win.
R7 Carlton And United Breweries Class 1 Hcp, 1350m
GEE GEE CAN WIN (4) successfully protested HAS THE LOOK (9) last time when the latter was first across the line but subsequently neither won the race. Opinions differ on which way the protest should've gone but we don't need to wait long for the re-match. FREELANCER (1) didn't run up to market expectation first-up but was slowly away in an on-pace dominated race. This trip looks more to his liking. DIVISOR (2) and FIGHTING FLOYD (3) come via the same Class 1 won by Outbound. Fighting Floyd was an eye catching closer down the outside. His maiden win was a narrow one over MERV DECIDES (6) who notched his first victory last start. Not a lot of form has come from that win, but he should take some improvement from the run. GOLD CURRENT (7) will appreciate getting back to this distance and BOSS CHEYENNE (10) will carry only 51.5kg as another last start winner. Open race.
R8 Barry Diprose Transport Benchmark 70 Hcp, 1650m
RISING LGHT (6) had heavy support at the T&D last time and put in a strong performance to defeat Wardell who subsequently won next start. It's a sharp rise from a maiden/class 1 to a BM70 but he does drop 3.5kg. BANCA NIP (5) is another last start winner who looks suited at the mile third-up. He's rarely run a bad race since transferring to Rowan Hamer and is particularly strong in Devonport. ETHICAL DILEMMA (1) passed on running around for prizemoney last week over 1150m for this race which looks more suitable. He hasn't won past 1400m but did run fifth in this year's Devonport Cup. UP WIND (2) and ANCONA (4) found Galway Girl too strong in a fast run mile race here a fortnight ago. Up Wind has a few gear changes this time, while the pace of that race seemed to find Ancona out late. MI KERI PI (3) is an ex-Mitch Freedman horse that brings reasonable Vic metro form. She's an on-pacer who should find the lead here if she wants it.
