3 minute read
Four-year-old mare Page has struck a purple patch of form and looks set to expand her winning streak when she lines up in the 7tas benchmark 60 handicap over 2100m in Launceston on Wednesday night.
Page has won three of her past four starts and lines up for a hat-trick and despite having to lug 5.5kg more than she carried to victory last start the John Blacker -trained mare drops significantly in grade.
Page showed a glimpse of form in January, but it wasn't until she returned to racing this season that she started to deliver on the promise she showed last season.
Last start she settled last off a genuine speed and when rider Liam Riordan found the right gap in the home straight, she powered home to win easily over the highly promising mare Miss Delia.
"The mare has definitely found a bit of good form for no reason, other than putting her in winnable races and despite her going up considerably in weight, she is in top form and will be hard to beat again," Blacker said.
"Her owners Mr and Mrs. Seymour have been loyal clients who have given her time, and they are being rewarded for their patience and hopefully the mare can go on with it and prove herself as a stayer."
Blacker has placed his talented sprinter Power Magnum on a five-day back-up having contested a benchmark 68 handicap in Launceston last Friday in which he finished a close second to Vetlanda that raced outside of Blacker's gelding throughout the 1200-metre sprint.
On Wednesday night he tackles the Field Family Class 3 Handicap over 1450m, so he is stepping down in class but up in distance.
Regular rider Mehmet Ulucinar goes back on and from barrier six in the 10-horse field he should have enough early speed to find a spot in the first three.
If that eventuates and he runs out a strong 1450m, he should again he hard to beat.
Peter Staples' best bets on the program.
Race 4 – 1. King Island
Race 5 – 1. Mywordis
