3 minute read
Saturday rounds out a busy time for the Tasmanian thoroughbred industry with the third meeting over the space of five days. There were also four trials in Devonport on Thursday.
Of the two meetings so far, punters have been on the right side of the ledger with four favourites winning from the 15 races decided, only one winner has been better than double figures, and the average winning price has been $5.40.
Hopefully, that trend can continue in Hobart on Saturday, the rail moves out four metres from the true position last Tuesday.
A seven-event card is set down with the feature race, the Goodwood Handicap, attracting a class field headed by up-and-comer Bello Beau.
The 4YO resumed in Launceston on 18 October, scoring a narrow win after being heavily backed to start the $1.35 favourite.
Bello Beau has won seven of his 12 race starts, and trainer Adam Trinder is expecting him to be even better than he was first-up.
"He's really come on since his win, he was a bit rusty there, I hadn't put any speed work into his training, just a long slow build-up, so he will present sharper and more focused on Saturday," the trainer said.
The top-weight and highest-rated horse in the field is Oxley Road, a newcomer to the John Keys stable after transferring from trainer Peter Moody.
Oxley Road has raced 15 times for three wins and almost half a million dollars in prize money, those wins were back in 2021 at Flemington and twice at Caulfield, including a win in the Group 3 Zedative Stakes.
Oxley Road won a recent trial at Longford, running on nicely to score over 800m, clocking 47.31s the third fastest of the 12 trials over that distance on the day.
Smart 6YO First Accused is first-up for new trainer Glenn Stevenson, Vamos Stakes winner Jaja Chaboogie has drawn the inside gate, and last seasons Devonport Cup winner Swoop Dog resumes as does Galenus.
Looking for a best bet, Rockierro (race 1) could get us off on a winning note. Even though he is coming back in distance, he gets his chance to score his maiden win at start 11.
Siggy Carr has got her team racing well, and she will be in the saddle. Rockierro was a shade disappointing first-up in Launceston on 27 October, but the form from that race should stand up, and this is much easier.
After Saturday, we get a breather with the next meeting scheduled for Launceston on Friday 17 November.
Duncan Dornauf will live host the TasracingTV coverage on Saturday afternoon where the first race is scheduled for 12:30.
