3 minute read
The Tasmanian Racing Club host their traditional Melbourne Cup Day meeting on Tuesday with seven races to be run.
R1 Silk Laser Clinics Hobart Benchmark 68 Hcp, 1100m
ALGERNON (2) is a track specialist winning four of his five starts in Hobart. He is unbeaten in three previous first-up runs and carried 60kg when winning here back in March. DON'TBUCKMEOFF (3) had heavy market support here last start but found one better. There was a big margin back to third there and he should get a good run trailing the likely leader APRIANO (5). JEREMIAH (1) is a good horse on his day but mixes form and will be looking for further than 1100m later in the campaign. HELLOVA NIGHT (4) is a new addition to the Terry Evans stable. His two victories were at maiden and class 1 level.
Staking Strategy: I have Don'tbuckme Off and Algernon as the clear top picks in the race. The price discrepancy makes Don'tbuckme Off an obvious play and I'll look at the quinella market in an attempt to save on the early favourite. 2 units to win on Don'tbuckme Off (3). 1 unit on 2,3 quinella.
R2 Downton Property Benchmark 76 Hcp, 2200m
COSTERO (4) relished getting back to the grass with a long-priced win last start. His two Hobart runs during winter were good, one of them a five-length victory. ARTY LUCAS (1) has caught the eye running on strongly at both of his Tasmanian starts. Six of his seven career wins have come over 2000m or further. Both he and MI KERI PI (2) have a significantly higher handicap rating than the opposition. Mi Keri Pi led and was forced to absorb some pressure at her one Tasmanian run. ONE LOTTO (3) has taken favourite punters on a roller coaster ride of late. He's started two's on at his last two starts, narrowly winning one and losing the other. IRISH SHOTGUN (5) was backed into $3.90 favourite in the race won by Costero. Blinkers go on and winkers come off.
Staking Strategy: Fairly noteworthy market move on Irish Shotgun who has almost halved in price after scratchings but for me it's a confident two horse play on Costero and Arty Lucas. The latter looks the best horse in the race while Costero is a completely different beast on the grass and appears way over the odds after what he showed last start. 3 units to win on both Arty Lucas (1) and Costero (4)
R3 Ladbrokes Easy Form Maiden, 1200m
Difficult race to assess with Scott Brunton having seven runners including a few first starters. LAYLOW PLUCK (2) ran some good races through his first campaign and has trialled nicely. He draws well with the state's top apprentice in the saddle. NEUTRALIZE (13) was beaten by a stablemate on a testing track back here in July. She draws the inside but keep an eye out for the jockey appointment if she runs. MASKED BANDIT (3) was held together in his recent trial. From barrier 17 Tayah Stalker will be hoping the same pattern presents as it did in Hobart last time when the rail was +15. NEED A FLUTTER (12) covered ground in Launceston but wasn't far off the placegetters. WHEELKNOT (5) was firmly in the market in that race but compounded in the home straight. He may be worth another chance. NUFEN SPECIAL (8) gets the blinkers on and has run his best races at this track. BROADWAY BABE (6) settled a little closer which enabled her to run into the money last start. EAGLE STREET (4) and FURTHER NORTH (7) both showed enough at the trials to suggest they're in the mix first-up. SHAKE YOUR TOOSHY (19) gains a start with all the scratchings. Her form last prep was better than it reads and was a strong trial winner at Longford.
Staking Strategy: This race has been hit hard by scratchings with the market working on the assumption that Scott Brunton taking out most of his runners leaves Eagle Street a good thing in the race. That may be true but I'm not the keen to take $1.60 to find out. Hunting value, a small 1x3 play on Need A Flutter who can hopefully position a little closer from the inside draw. 0.5 units to win and 1.5 units to place on Need A Flutter (12)
R4 Mayor Of Glenorchy Bec Thomas Maiden, 1390m
BELMISTA (1) had good support at the last Hobart meeting but found one too good after racing on the speed. The trifecta had a big margin on the rest there and he'll strip fitter. Stablemate SHAMMGOD (7) was also heavily backed on the same program and raced a lot further back than she has in her limited Tasmanian career. She hit the line well that day suggesting the extra ground may suit. ALPINE AFFAIR (4) has his first run in the south of the state. Held up on the home turn last start he perhaps should've run second in that race. POWERFUL PEBBLES (6) ran her usual honest race first-up but has the widest barrier to overcome here. In that same race SWIFT MILOU (9) went from travelling to battling in the blink of an eye but was a $5.50 chance that day.
Staking Strategy: Interesting little race with three main chances that the market has identified. I have Belmista a clear top pick though and think that Romary formline is the strongest of that trio. 4 units to win on Belmista (1)
R5 Unique Doors And Windows 0-62, 1390m
DINGA'S DELIGHT (4) knocked most punters out of the quaddie at the last Hobart meeting with a real form reversal. He should be suited by the expected tempo and a repeat performance will go close again. He rises 4.5kg as does HUNCH (5) who was the quinella horse in the same race after a good ride from Siggy Carr. JOHN'S LAD (2) went back to find the outside fence last time and ran on well for second. He got past the on pacers ISKRA (6) and HOT RELATION (1) who put themselves in the race and any track pattern should be known by this stage of the day. UNDER HIS EYE (8) won his maiden last start and that form is tested in the previous race. GEE GEES JENNIA (11) is racing without a lot of luck but will need some from a tricky alley.
Staking Strategy: Open race. Happy to spec Gee Gees Jennia each-way who will need some luck from the draw but is due a bit after recent runs. 1 unit each-way on Gee Gees Jennia (11)
R6 Hygain Benchmark 68 Hcp, 1390m
VALLABAR (2) ran a bottler first-up which saw him sent out favourite last time and he rewarded punters with a strong win. The best part of his race was his finish so 1400m should suit off that, but he will carry an extra 4kg. JOHNNY CHUTZPAH (4) has been consistent since arriving in Tasmania and broke through for a deserved win last start. That form can be franked in the previous race. IVORYMAN (3) doesn't know how to run a bad race and was spotted hitting the line hard first-up. BORN MAGIC (7) was a bit plain at the T&D, just getting edged for third by ALFRED STREET (8) who was a huge market mover. It may be a case of where there's smoke there's fire with Alfred Street who hasn't won since March 2019. NEV'S BOY (5) returned from a freshen with a good second over 1100m and now rises sharply in trip. VIDEMANETTE (6) only has a moderate fresh record but has finished in the quinella in three of five Hobart runs.
Staking Strategy: Don't really want to be against Vallabar here but jumping to 60kg I'm after $2.50+ rather than the even money that's on offer. The old grey Ivoryman made a nice return in Launceston and rarely puts in a bad one. 0.5 units to win and 1.5 units to place on Ivoryman (3)
R7 Graham Family Funerals Benchmark 62 Hcp, 1000m
GEEGEELUCKYSTAR (2) got the best of a busy finish in Launceston. He's yet to miss the quinella in his five-start career and should enjoy a good run just behind the speed. SPARKLING ONE (4) ran the fastest time of the day at the Longford trials on 12 October. She's a jump and run type which should suit a 4kg claiming apprentice. There are two versions of LITTLE RIVER BOY (5). The good one brained them on this day in 2020. The bad one finished his campaign with five consecutive unplaced runs. LOVE NOTES (9) is first-up without a trial. She has a placing at the T&D. JUST MOONCOIN (6) is a new stable addition for Siggy Carr and trialled up nicely. GEE GEE QUEEN BEE (1) is right back in class and gets in well with the claim for Jemma Curtain but has tended to struggle on the redeveloped Hobart track.
Staking Strategy: Gee Gee Queen Bee and Little River Boy are a pair of enigma's whose best would likely blow this field away but their worst would struggle to beat the ambulance home. Let's hope at least one of them shows up today. 1 unit to win on both Little River Boy (5) and Gee Gee Queen Bee (1)
