3 minute read
Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson will take only a small team to Devonport on Sunday but has a strong chance of landing the winner of the Thankyou Greg Mansfield BM68 Hcp (1650m).
The Glenn Stevenson trained Ubriaco was a little unlucky here on 21 June when a close fourth behind Square Donut over 1350m at his second run from a break and it's fair to say had it got the run Square Donut did, Ubriaco may well have won.
While Square Donut hardly left the rails, Ubriaco was near last around the home turn, pulled out wide and finished better than any other runner to be within a length of the winner at the finish.
Ubriaco has twice won over Sunday's distance of 1600m and has twice won when racing third-up.
"He drew a decent alley last start, but Kelvin (jockey Kelvin Sanderson) said he just walked out and I think his last sectional was the best of the race.
"I wasn't overly keen to push out to the mile, it's a 10-day turnaround but he should be hard to beat he seems to be bright and well in himself," Stevenson said.
Ubriaco has been a handy galloper for connections with five wins from 19 starts, three of those wins have been on the Tapeta synthetic surface in Devonport.
Stevenson will also take his unraced 3YO Ozturk to Devonport, he will tackle the Kevin Sharkie Maiden (1350m).
"She's by Zululand, at this stage she hasn't shown a great deal, she's very one-paced and I think she will need a bit of ground."
Stevenson will also saddle up Lord Whitegate who will race second-up in a BM60 over 1150m.
Lord Whitegate is capable of showing blistering speed but first-up he was always well back after drawing gate 13 in a field of 14.
"He's drawn a gate this time (3), we had to ride him quiet from the gate the other week.
"He will be in the first few, he has got ability but sometimes it can be hard to get the best out of him, he's working well and I think he will be in the finish."
Stevenson has around 20 horses in work and his presence at the races should ramp up in coming weeks.
"At the moment I've got a lot of unraced horses, but I've got a few ready to go in the next few weeks. Title Shot, Three's A Crowd and old Malevolent, a few new ones coming through so our race numbers will be up shortly."
Anyone happy to have a bet before noon should collect with Rubick's Affair looking a good thing in the first, a 2YO Maiden over 1150m. Rubick's Affair has had two starts for two placings against older horses and although sure to be a short quote, she should get punters off to a winning start.
Looking for value, it will pay to overlook the last start failure of Multisanti in race 6. From a much kinder barrier draw, he will get a far softer run and be hard to beat.
