3 minute read

Power Magnum has been a revelation for Longford trainer John Blacker this season winning at his first two outings on the Devonport synthetic and now the Magnus gelding has thew chance to register a hat trick of wins when he steps out in the Mystic Journey Class 3 Handicap over 1200m in Launceston on Wednesday night.

In Brief

 

• Power Magnum aiming for three in a row in Launceston tonight.
• Zulu Guru expected to shine on debut.
• First Accused can win first-up in open handicap.

The gelding suffered a fractured pedal bone as an early three-year-old and only resumed racing this season, but the surgery carried out by a South Australian vet who was visiting the state on another matter the day after the gelding suffered the injury.

"Call it fate, or call it lucky, at the end of the day the surgery worked, and the horse is doing great," Blacker said.

Power Magnum goes up against some handy sprinters including Gee Gees So True that has great form going into the race as well as Outbound that is first-up but has trialed brilliantly at Longford recently.

"This is definitely a much tougher race than he was in last start, but the horse is in really good order and if he gets the right run in the race, I can see him winning again."

High hopes for debut

Wesley Vale trainer John Keys had no expectations of his unraced three-year-old Zulu Guru that he took her to the trials at Longford last week, but she surprised with a game win over 700 metres promoting him to enter her in this Tasbred Bonus 3YO maiden (1100m).

Zulu Guru (Zululand-Chi Gong) had two trials in May-June in which she finished well down the track, but last week she raced just off the speed and proved too strong in the home straight to score narrowly and with a bit in reserve.

"I have had an opinion of this filly for a while and I had hoped to get her rolling as a two-year-old, but she was just too immature," Keys said.

"This time in she has improved but it wasn't until her trial last week that I realised she has turned the corner.

"She still has a bit to learn but on that trial effort I'd say she will be very competitive on Wednesday night in what is a winnable race for her."

The filly will be ridden by last season's premier rider Codi Jordan, who chased the ride.

Zulu Guru goes around in race three on the eight-event card that will be broadcast on Sky1 and streamed live on TasracingTV, but Sky Thoroughbred Central will not broadcast the meeting owing to other commitments.

Gun galloper resumes

One of Tasmania's best gallopers First Accused makes his long-awaited return to racing tonight in the Still A Star Open Handicap over 1100 metres.

First Accused won a benchmark 76 handicap in Hobart in January followed by an effortless five-length win in the $65,000 Tasmanian Magic Millions 3&4YO Classic in Launceston over 1400m.

The Scott Brunton-trained five-year-old was given a short let-up and returned to win another BM76 handicap in Hobart over 1200m in late April after which Brunton sent the Turffontein gelding to Melbourne for a BM84 event (1400m) in which he was a gallant second, beaten a long neck.

Brunton is expected to aim First Accused at the Newmarket Handicap to be run in Launceston at the end of November, but he also has plans to take him back to Melbourne.

First Accused has been in work a while and should go into Wednesday night's assignment fit enough to emerge triumphant, but if he is vulnerable in Tasmania this preparation it will be first-up.

Brunton has called on the services of Victorian rider Jarrod Lorensini who will have only one ride at the meeting.

Former Newmarket winner Gee Gee Secondover has had two runs this time in and well-spaced for a first-up third to Music Addition in Launceston (1220m) and a last-start sixth of seven to Fivefingerdiscount in an open handicap over 1220m in Launceston towards the end of September in which the winner was allowed to get away with cheap sectionals in front.

Gee Gee Lanett gets in on the minimum (54kg) and has speed to burn, so she is the likely leader, and should she be allowed to free-wheel without pressure she could cause an upset.

Miss Tuppence was one of last season's better-performed three-year-old fillies and while her first two starts this preparation appeared lacklustre on paper, she could easily turn that form around third-up from a spell.