3 minute read
It will be an exciting day for apprentices Taylor Johnstone and Tayah Stalker as they make their riding debuts on Sunday in Devonport during the eight-race program.
R1 Unique Doors & Windows Benchmark 66 Hcp, 1650m
RISING LIGHT (3) backs up after being edged in a photo to close the program last Sunday. That race resembled a glorified track gallop so the quick turnaround shouldn't be a problem, and Pires goes back aboard having ridden the horse in both career wins. BANCA NIP (2) has returned with two nice runs over the 1350m. 1650m third-up looks ideal and if the scratching last Sunday wasn't owing to anything serious than this looks a nice option. DARGO (1) has been a good pick-up for Team Wells but after six straight 1880m starts, dropping to the mile deep into the campaign doesn't look ideal. GEEGEES ROCK OPERA (4) couldn't get into the race last time but was a winner at the T&D three starts ago.
R2 Goodstone Group Maiden, 1009m
CHAMPAGNE CINDERS (11) led first-up before being swallowed up late to just miss the placings. Back to 1009m won't be a negative if Troy Baker can hold the rail in front again here. SOULITA (8) enjoyed the run of the race last time to run second at a huge price. Her best puts her firmly in the mix of a race with limited exposed form. MISS RED (6) resumes having not raced since July. She's placed twice from three attempts at the T&D. MEIGETSU (5) is a 5YO with only one start to her name and she was never on the track there. Tongue tie goes on and she led all the way when winning her trial. GEE GEES BUZZ (10) gives Taylor Johnstone her first race ride. She recently rode the horse to a nice trial win indicating he may have improved from his 2YO season. MCSWEYN (2) was second in the same trial but draws off the track. FORTESSA (4) is another runner resuming, backing up quickly from a decent trial performance on Tuesday.
R3 Ladbrokes Punter Assist 3yo Maiden, 1150m
WANE'S QUEST (6) had good support on debut off the back of a good trial but raced like an inexperienced horse and weakened in the home straight. Brendon McCoull takes the ride which is interesting given he has ridden CHOSEN EAGLE (1) in both of his trials. He didn't run any time in his most recent trial but was kept under a strong hold. EPIC SONG (2) has changed stables since a debut run where he was no match for the quinella but had a good margin on fourth. GEE GEE SNOWFLAKE (8) comes out of a fast run maiden and should enjoy a good run from an ideal draw. MYSTICAL VIXEN (10) was a late scratching last week when found to be lame and has been scratched a few times now since her last run. Winkers go on. POP A HONDA (5) has been solid in two trials with an apprentice on but Troy Baker takes the ride for his first time facing the judge.
R4 Kevin Sharkie Maiden, 1350m
Not much form to work with in this one. GOLD GOWN (2) was a long way from the winner but raced without cover, so the effort last Sunday had merit. Ismail Toker takes the ride this week, his 17% winning strike rate for Rowan Hamer is up from 11% for his career. HAMPTON STREET (3) was specked in the same race but couldn't get warm from the back of the field. CHI MAZEL (1) was sensationally backed first-up last campaign but flopped there and the market slowly deserted him thereafter. He resumes without a trial and Pires aboard. BONDI TIFF (11) is guaranteed a start after an early scratching. She settled back and ran on at her first Tassie run and will probably be asked for the same here from a wide draw. SH'BOURNE BRANDY (7) was scratched last week when no rider was available. She wasn't far off Need to be Unique at the trials who did everything but win first-up. LUPANAR (5) has run the odd decent race, but they've been on the grass. Hard to get a read on ROMARY (6) when two of her three NSW runs were on wet going. LUCE DELLA LUNA (4) should've finished closer last time but was poor at the T&D the start prior.
R5 Tasmanian Horse Transport Mdn/cl1, 1650m
TASSIE MISS (8) has started favourite at her last two starts but things haven't gone to plan in either. It would be hard to see her not ridden for speed given how the race went last time out. CAPTAIN MORGAN (1) drops significantly in class. Blinkers go back on, and the mile looks fine for him with a month between runs. DELEGATED (2) makes her state debut for Leanne Gaffney. She lost form for the previous stable but if she can recapture her best it looks good enough for a race like this. GEE GEE CLOUDY BAY (3) finally broke through at start 18 and now tackles the mile for the first time at her 10th run for the campaign. PORT BERRY (4) and URBAN EQUITY (6) mix form but if the good versions turn up this is within their grasp.
R6 Fight Mnd Benchmark 60 Hcp, 1150m
GEE GEE JOSIE (1) was crowned the top 2YO of 19/20 but hasn't won since the Elwick Stakes in January 2020. She raced three-wide in a recent trial, finishing third against horses that would be very short in this field. MADETOBEBROKEN (2) won impressively at his first Tassie start, The Beekeeper franking the form last Sunday. He goes up 2kg from that win. Perennial second placegetter TROJAN STORM (3) has Tayah Stalker on race debut aboard and the widest gate to contend with. GEE GEE REAL DEAL (6) raced wide on-speed last time, so the inside gate looks a blessing if she jumps well. GEE GEE RHYTHM (4) settled well back in the same race and back markers never really played a part. She looks suited back up to 1150m.
R7 Thai Imperial Benchmark 60 Hcp, 1350m
ISKRA (3) led all the way at the T&D last Sunday. This race maps for potentially even less pressure than she had there and if that occurs, she is a big chance of a repeat victory. MISS EXCESS (5) produced a powerful finish at her first run for Tanya Hanson. She'll be back here and hoping run on horses can get into the race. HOLY DIAMOND (1) comes via the same BM60 won by Lucky Bucky. That was a fast run race which may have found him out with 61kg. Byrne Burke claims 2kg here and I doubt the rise in distance is a negative. GEE GEE GOLDENLASS (2) dropped from 1150m to 1009m last Sunday and now rises to 1350m a week later. She didn't run up to market expectation last time but is better than that. ANACREON (7) has had a change of scenery as a 7YO with just one victory from 46 starts. She trialled well and gives Tom Doyle the chance to build on a record of two career wins from 41 rides for his master Adam Trinder.
R8 Winning Edge Presentations Open Hcp, 1350m
Last start winners MYWORDIS (6) and BARJEEL (6) try to make the jump to open company. Good draws, weight relief from last start and an excellent track record make it easy to make a case for both. FRAGMENT (1) was three-wide the trip at his first run back in the care of Barry Campbell. He should take improvement from that and will finish the race off better with a more economical run. QUEEN LA DIVA (2) resumes without a trial and with no synthetic runs to her credit. She warrants respect if here with Pires waiting around from the fourth race to take the ride. DOROZA (3) comes out of a trial that produced two Group 2 placegetters and a BM66 winner last weekend. Four of her five wins have come at 2000m and further. RISING HSIANG (4) hasn't missed a place in three runs at the T&D which include two wins while RAGHU (7) looks the leader in an open race to finish the day.
