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The Tasmanian Racing Club host a feature program in Hobart on Sunday with the running of the $30,000 Goodwood Handicap which affords the winner ballot free entry into the Newmarket on 1 December.
A few horses in the Goodwood are dual nominated with Launceston on Wednesday night but the depth of the race should ensure a quality field.
The rail moves to the +5m position and with rain forecast for much of the weekend, the track is likely to race in the soft range.
R1 Mckay Timber 2yo Maiden, 900m
VOKES (10) ran the fastest 2YO time of the day in Launceston on 1 November and the third fastest overall. She landed on the bunny there which is important over 900m. ELLA EXCEEDS (7) was under a hold to the line and raced quite green early in the trial. That may be the reason for the lugging bit being applied. GEEGEE JET BY (2) was slow out but made good ground from there and was looked after late. Gandy and Carr teamed up to win this race last year. GRAND PEGASUS (4) and MISS PECULIAR (9) crossed the line together at the Hobart trials with the latter seemingly asked for a little more effort. HIGHLAND AFFAIR (8) was a couple of lengths behind but has the winkers applied for race day.
R2 Derwent Park Plumbing Maiden, 1200m
WARICA (7) was stuck in the worst part of the track in Launceston last start but boxed on for second. He's shown tenacity in both career runs but the draw makes it tough as it does for stablemate ALPINE AFFAIR (3) who comes via the same race. The first four had a good margin on the rest there. Brunton debutantes EXPENSIVE MISTAKE (6) and BOND STREET BEAU (4) were both good at the Launceston trials. Siggy Carr rode both there so punters can perhaps take a lead from her staying with Expensive Mistake on race day. MASKED BANDIT (2) and SIGNTHECHEQUE (11) are also from the Brunton stables and have a bit of race experience under the belt. Signthecheque looked to have a few excuses in both of her beaten runs. Masked Bandit has accepted and scratched since his Devonport trial win. NUFEN SPECIAL (10) controlled the race on speed with the winner on Melbourne Cup Day, but the plunge horse was too strong late. McCoull goes on. KRPUT CANDY (15) resumes off a reasonable trial and was at the head of the market in similar races last campaign.
R3 Rick's Plaster Benchmark 62 Hcp, 1200m
BRINKTOP LAD (2) has had seven of his nine career starts at the track and only missed a place once. He was a strong winner resuming and the third horse won on Wednesday night. His SP profile says he'll be short in the market again. STEFANIDI (10) got a mile back as she can do and ran on for fourth behind Brinktop Lad first-up. Pires takes the ride here with the use of a claimer on the likely fav. SEGUIMIENTOS (13) has placed at her last six starts showing how consistent she's been since moving to Scott Brunton. She arguably should've finished a bit closer to Brinktop Lad when they met in July. FIGHTING FLOYD (3) was doing his best work late last time but is a horse that seems to need an ugly ride so an inside draw may not be ideal. JUST MOONCOIN (5) was solid at his Tassie debut behind the flying Sparkling One. Something less brutally run should see him settle closer. STELLADONI (5) and RAVAGE (7) both resume and while they can mix their form, have decent ability on their day.
R4 Pst Power Solutions Mdn/cl1, 1600m
BLUSHED (5) was good first-up which saw her heavily supported the next start but was never better than three-wide without cover. She finished in a photo at her one previous Hobart run which incidentally was the first race run on the new track. SIR LOFT (3) comes through the same race and made good late ground after being held up for a run turning for home. LADY (7) continues to race without a lot of luck, she covered a stack of ground last time despite a low draw. An early pattern around gate one should be known by this race. Stablemate SURPRIZE EFFECT (8) never got warm until the race was over when he resumed, and that run is a little better than it reads on paper. CHI MAZEL (6) and AUSSIE WARRIOR (4) have both been plunged this campaign but the bookies have gotten the lot. The market has paid a lot more respect to Aussie Warrior than what he has shown on race day, while Chi Mazel boxed on pretty well after leading at a solid clip first-up.
R5 Pst Power Solutions Goodwood Hcp, 1100m
AND BEYOND (6) aims to keep his unbeaten Tasmanian record intact. He was very impressive at Longford on Tuesday and his one previous Hobart start was a barnstorming win on Hobart Cup Day after missing the start. We should have an idea by this race if barrier 11 is a negative for Teagan Voorham. DEROCHE (3) had the race run to suit in Launceston and won accordingly but that form didn't receive a big push at the meeting last Wednesday week. She's started $1.90 and $1.35 at her last two Hobart starts, one of which was in this race last year when finishing third. TAKE THE SIT (7) is a classy mare resuming off some nice trials and with a good record on the Hobart track. She draws wide and was safely held by And Beyond when they met in February. ALGERNON (8) won for fun at the Melbourne Cup Day meeting and drops 6kg from that. He's one all with FIRST ACCUSED (9) in their last two meetings, the latter resuming without a trial so keep an eye out for a market lead. SPARKLING ONE (11) was simply too fast in lesser grade over 1000m when she resumed. Expect similar tactics to be employed as we've repeatedly seen that's how she races best.
R6 Toms Countdown Benchmark 68 Hcp, 1400m
JOHNNY CHUTZPAH (5) chases a hat-trick of wins, all at the Hobart track. He was expertly ridden last start by Bulent Muhcu to defeat VALLABAR (2) with the market firmly in the corner of the eventual winner that day. Vallabar has a 2kg swing in his favour. RISING LIGHT (6) returns from a freshen having gone to a new level across his last three starts in Devonport. He should've finished closer at his most recent Hobart run. ALINJER (3) has a powerful finish when he settles close enough to use it. A bit of sting out of the track won't be a negative for him. IVORYMAN (7) is ultra-consistent and won't be far away again. BORN MAGIC (11) and FLOURISHING FUTURE (4) sport the same colours and one of them should lead. Any pattern where that's favoured will be known by now. John Luttrell pair JOHN'S LAD (12) and NEV'S BOY (8) have been around the mark in similar races and will likely be each-way chances in the market again.
R7 Clennetts Mitre 10 Benchmark 62 Hcp, 2100m
ENCOSTA FIORENTE (4) was a surprise winner over a mile on Melbourne Cup Day, but the form was franked with Gee Gees Jennia winning on Wednesday. She's placed in all three starts at the T&D. TRAVELLING GIGOLO (1) looks ready to get out to the staying distance, closing well over a mile last time and finishing in the inferior going. He has 60kg but did carry 59kg to win at the T&D in May. IRISH SHOTGUN (5) was backed as if the result was known here last start but weakened after running out to a tearaway lead. That was a strange race with COSTERO (3) also beaten out of sight. SUBMIT ANOTHER (6) was a big market drifter in Launceston and ran accordingly. He's not proven past a mile but has been up a long time so fitness shouldn't be an issue.
