3 minute read
Rising star And Beyond has been installed favourite to win the $125,000 Newmarket Handicap in Launceston on Wednesday night even though he has yet to match it with open class opposition.
Bookmakers opened the Tanya Hanson-trained four-year-old at $4.40 but an avalanche of money saw his price tumble into $3.50 only minutes after the market was posted with corporate bookmakers.
And Beyond has won all six starts in Tasmania with his only loss coming in a race at Caulfield in late July but he won at his only other interstate outing at Sandown back in March.
He tuned up for the Newmarket with a resounding win in the Goodwood Handicap over 1100m in Hobart three weeks ago and that followed two trials on his home track at Longford.
"He pulled up really well from his Goodwood run and his work since has been spot-on and goes into the Newmarket in top shape," Hanson said.
"He galloped nicely on Monday, so I'd say he is cherry ripe for Wednesday night."
Hanson said she wasn't surprised he opened favourite.
"I thought he might be favourite but not that short and the way they backed him in has surprised me because this is definitely his toughest test, and we get to know exactly how good he is going up against this top-class field that is probably one of the hottest Newmarkets in years."
Premier trainer Scott Brunton will saddle up five with The Inevitable and Street Tough at $7 on the second line of betting with the Glen Stevenson-trained War Correspondent and all are genuine each-way hopes.
The Bill Ryan-trained mare Take The Sit has been specked at $13 as has Brunton's lightly raced four-year-old First Accused.
Stevenson's warhorse sprinter I'm Wesley is trying to win his fourth Newmarket in succession, although he spent over a year on the sidelines with a hoof injury.
He has drawn poorly in gate 16 which will make it difficult to pull off the amazing feat, but his trial form of late has been excellent.
Last year's winner Gee Gee Secondover has had a similar preparation to last year, although his trainer Leon Wells from Team Wells said the gelding had a slight hiccup during the preparation but nothing to worry about.
Gee Gee Secondover was unplaced at Caulfield at his most recent outing in mid-August, but he races best when kept fresh.
