3 minute read

Seven Mile Beach trainer Joel Flannery admitted to making a mistake with Fivefingerdiscount’s first-up assignment but in Launceston on Sunday all was forgiven as the gelding gave quality opposition a galloping lesson in the Marjorie Fitzpatrick Memorial Open Handicap over 1220 metres.

In Brief

• Fivefingerdiscount storms into Newmarket calculations.
• Trainer admits mistake.
• Vivilici impresses with second to give trainer confidence going forward.

In winning Fivefingerdiscount stormed into calculations for Tasmania's best sprint race the Newmarket Handicap when he led throughout to score by two lengths from Vivilici with Savs Finale flashing home late to grab third a length astern.

Punters weren't happy with the former Victorian gelding starting as the rank outsider in the field of seven at odds of up to $46.

Fivefingerdiscount won two in succession towards the end of his last preparation but after failing first-up in Hobart two weeks ago when fifth to Julius beaten almost seven lengths, Flannery went back to the drawing board.

"I didn't have him fit enough for his first assignment but today he showed me enough to suggest we should probably think about heading to the Newmarket," Flannery said.

"On advice from jockey David Pires I put more work into the horse, I schooled him over a few jumps at home and we applied blinkers for the first time.

"The handicapper will probably give him enough points from that win to get his rating close to 80 points, so I'll look at the calendar to map out a plan."

One of last season's best three-year-olds Alpine Wolf was heavily backed late in betting to start the $2.05 favourite at what was his first start this preparation.

Alpine Wolf loomed three-wide at the top of the straight but was found wanting at the business end of the race and the same applied to the second-favourite Music Addition ($2.60) that traveled second and one-off the rail for the duration while talented mare Vivilici ($16) trailed the leader.

Vivilici's rider, Erica Byrne Burke, said her mare was travelling sweetly to well into the straight and she half-expected the leader to wilt but that never eventuated.

"My mare was honest to the line and gave me a good kick when I asked but the winner was just too good on the day," Byrne Burke said.

Trinder plans to aim Vivilici at the weight-for-age Vamos Stakes over 1400m in February.