3 minute read
Trainer Leanne Gaffney will take more than 50% of her team to the Devonport meeting on Sunday with a huge chance to spend plenty of time in the winner’s circle.
Leanne Gaffney will take five from her team of nine to the track and it's easy to mount an argument that all five have winning chances in their respective races with the highly promising Cornelian Bay the pick of the bunch going around in the Tasmanian Horse Transport BM60 ( 1150m).
The 3YO hasn't raced since finishing unplaced in the Tasmanian Guineas in Hobart in early January. He's had two trials preparing for Sunday and could not have been more impressive at his most recent trial on 24 April and is 2/2 when racing fresh.
"He's a very promising horse, a very big horse and he's taken time to develop, he's still not quite where we want him mentally and physically, but he needs another couple of runs for experience and then he will have a bit of a break and I reckon he will comeback a really good 4YO," Gaffney said.
The Devonport based trainer says next time in she will aim Cornelian Bay at some of the feature races during the Summer Carnival.
Cornelian Bay has top weight of 60.5kg but has drawn barrier two and will be ridden by Brendon McCoull.
Gaffney will kick off her day with Madjack who resumes in the Ladbrokes Communities Maiden (1150m). He's been placed in two of seven runs and was third behind Cornelian Bay in that recent trial.
"He's had two trials and gone well so I'm expecting him to put in a good show."
Duncannon gets the chance to break though after five placings from seven starts. He was strong to the line when second here a couple of weeks ago.
"He was a little unlucky, he got blocked for a run and there was a bit of buffeting and I think he should be right in it if he gets a clear run.
"He's by Decides and they all take a bit of time, he used to buck really badly early on, so he has been a work in progress."
Slipslopslap looks a winning chance in the Kevin Sharkie Class 1 (1150m) while Alpine Aviator could round out the day on a winning note in the Thai Imperial BM60 (1350m). Although drawn wide, he does excel on the synthetic surface where he has won twice and been placed six times from nine starts.
"He's a lovely horse, he does have a little trouble settling but I think if we can get him to settle and he gets the right ride he could be right in the finish."
My best comes from the Gaffney yard. For mine, Cornelian Bay has the most potential of any horse at the meeting, his fresh form is excellent as was his trial. I'm also keen to speculate with a little each-way Bahia Bay in race 2. Only lightly raced, new stable and some gear changes make him an interesting play.
The first of eight races kicks off at 11:55 with the program broadcast on Sky Racing 1 and TasracingTV.
