3 minute read

Well-bred two-year-old Shooting North will make his debut in Launceston on Wednesday night after winning a trial impressively at Longford recently.

In Brief

• Shooting North tuned up for his debut with an impressive trial win at Longford.
• Stevenson was on the verge of spelling his son of Shooting to Win.
• Coronation Keith faces tough test with Stevenson's mare his hardest to beat.

Shooting North (Shooting to Win-Buzzing Along), a half-brother to this season's Newmarket Handicap winner Deroche, was popular at last year's Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling sale where he sold for $67,500 after spirited bidding from three power buyers.

Trainer Glenn Stevenson has given the youngster a few preps and was about to tip him out, but his trial three weeks ago was encouraging and last Thursday he won a trial impressively which has convinced him to push on.

"I gave him a jump-out, then we trialed him at Longford three weeks ago and he has really come on since that hit-out," Stevenson said.

"They added another two-year-old race in Launceston this week, so we might as well try and get him to win one before we tip him out."

In his recent trial the gelding raced outside of the leader Geegees Royal Duke and when rider Codi Jordan gave him a squeeze in the home straight, he gained the upper hand and went on to score by 1-1/2 lengths.

"The horse has decided he wants to be a racehorse because he travelled to Longford on his own in a float and got off as if he'd just travelled around the corner.

"This last month he has really grabbed the bit and got on with it. He's taking it all in and is doing everything right."

Stevenson is planning to take his classy mare Boom Dot Com to Melbourne in the coming weeks and she will tune up for that trip in a benchmark 76 handicap over 1420 metres.

"Boom Dot Com has come through the Bow Mistress and Vamos runs in top order, so she'll run on Wednesday night and then we'll look at taking her to Melbourne for a fillies and mares' race at Sandown."

The mare comes up against the in-form Coronation Keith on Wednesday night and while he is likely to start favourite, it is his toughest test.

Coronation Keith was impressive in winning a benchmark 68 over 1400m at his most recent outing and even though he was found wanting in a benchmark 76 at his previous start he was first-up from a spell and fitness found him out at the business end of the race.