3 minute read
Tasmanian thoroughbred racing is back on the grass this Sunday when the Tasmanian Racing Club in Hobart hosts a nine-race program.
The rail is +9m, a two-metre shift from the meeting a fortnight ago. With a fine weather forecast, I'd expect a soft 5 to be presented and likely remain in that rating for the day.
R1 Up Cups Bm76 Handicap, 2400m
Travelling Gigolo (1), Yarra Master (2) and Page (3) ran the trifecta in that order a fortnight ago and a repeat seems likely here. Travelling Gigolo started odds on and needed the judge to decide the result, despite having the run of the race. He meets the two that finished behind him 1.5kg worse at the weights, but does have a Hobart Cup placing to his credit at the T&D.
R2 Kevin Sharkie Maiden, 1200m
Henley Extreme (6) was a $4 chance last Sunday before being scratched on race morning with an infection on its wither. Assuming that issue was minor, this race doesn't present as any harder, and the stable are in-form coming off a treble. Alpine Wolf (11) closed hard but just missed in Devonport, despite a big market drift. She's been up a while, having debuted in early February and has her first look at Hobart. Gee Gee Dare (5) has been in the minor money at her last two after racing on the speed. Blinkers replace winkers. Sh'bourne Glory (10) resumes after an indifferent two-start debut campaign. She draws well and won a recent trial, albeit in slow time. Kakia (1) was back and wide at his only start. He's trialled since then and may be ridden more aggressively despite another wide draw. Towering Inferno (4) didn't show a lot at his only start, but he doesn't look like a 1000m horse and interestingly has Newitt booked for his resumption.
R3 Ladbroke It! Maiden, 1200m
April's Dance (4) is improving with every start. She only just missed last time behind Row Row Power in a race where Mister Manihi (1) started favourite and appeared to have his chance racing outside the leader. Puzzle Miss (8) worked home solidly there as well, suggesting she can at least pick up a maiden down here. Rippen Gold (2) went straight to a $50k open-age race following an unplaced run on debut. He was far from disgraced in that better company and wasn't knocked about in a trial earlier in the week. I'm a wrap for late season 2YOs against the older horses, and we get that here with Rainbow Alley (13). Muhcu sticks from a winning trial and has a good record for the stable. Miss Chica Mala (6) and She Plays Games (10) have over 30 starts between them but are generally in the market.
R4 Ladbrokes Owners Incentive Maiden/class 1, 1600m
Es And Es (2) beat home the far more fancied stablemate Wickham Light (5) in the Autumn Classic. That race favoured those coming from the back, so there was more merit in the run of Wickham Light than it may have originally looked, but either way they'll start much closer in price this time around. Carnelian Rock (1) was fifth in the same race, and that winning time was over a second quicker than We All Decide (11) on the same day. The Autumn Classic looks the far stronger formline but minor hopes to Frenetico (8) and Foreign Legion (7) if that isn't the case. Fashion Fox (3) was solid in a strong Class 1 last time. Expect him to try and find a forward spot from the wide draw. Waddy Waddy (4) has disappointed at his last couple but is in the mix off his two runs prior to that.
R5 Mingari & Co Class 1 Handicap, 1400m
Van Scotia (6) recently went through the sale ring and has joined Siggy Carr's team. The new trainer also has the sit and could be favoured in a race lacking a lot of obvious speed. Not Rich Enuff (1) is back in class after running well in a strong 0-62, but that was over a month ago and he's 1220m-1400m. Pepparoni (8) has also had a little break but seemed to show no ill effects after a good trial at Longford on Tuesday. Lontano (2) comes through the Autumn Classic, and that form can be franked earlier. Gie It Laldy (7) was given a great ride by Anthony Darmanin to win her maiden last start. Devonport form can be a bit suspect coming back to the grass, and she has her first run in Hobart. Flying Billie (3) raced wide without cover at his first start for John Keys. Hayley McCarthy now has the ride, having previously had success when the horse was trained by Cameron Thompson.
R6 Jbm Group Bm60 Handicap, 1400m
Freak On A Lead (1) led them a merry dance at the T&D in this grade last time to win by a space. If he's left alone up front again, the same can happen despite carrying 62kg after the claim. Sushi Express (2) maps to have the drop on the leader. That pair are the class in the race and will carry big weights accordingly. Monte Bianco (11) went back from a wide draw last time before hitting the line well. Winkers replace blinkers and while the draw is still a bit tricky, you'd expect her to settle much closer to the speed. Sandual (5) boxed on well in the Autumn Classic and it'll be well and truly known by now how that form is holding up. Exalted Crown (6) was a better run than it reads first-up in Devonport. Stablemates No Access (3) and Forest Diamond (9) draw to swoop if the race develops into a run on affair.
R7 Aviso Tas Pink Cup Bm60 Handicap, 1200m
A lot of these come through the BM66 won by Sweet Lucifer (1), who came from off the speed under strong riding from Newitt. Not sure where he ends up here from barrier 17 with Rocky taking the ride. Fighting Floyd (4) was ridden for luck up the rail to run third there. Creative Licence (7) wasn't far away and perhaps peaked chasing a genuine pace first-up. Stablemate Belluna (6) gives trainer Imogen Miller a strong hand in the race. Banca Tom (5) will have supporters with Newitt and blinkers going on. Ngapali Beach (10) made a nice return at her first Hobart start to run fourth, coming through the same form line and has a much softer map. Araya Sunshine (13) has developed into an opportunist who needs luck from back in the field, and it arrived last start. This is harder, but she stays down in the weights. There wasn't much between Agnete (9) and Enchanted Spy (14) in a recent trial but neither has fared brilliantly with barriers. Bellasario (12) is racing in good form and will be swooping, while Layla's Song (8) resumes and could be the pilot. Tough quaddie leg.
R8 Motree Thoroughbreds Class 1 Handicap, 1200m
Dysart (2) and Tough Impact (6) looked set to fight out the finish over 1100m in this class a fortnight ago, only to be nabbed late by Araya Sunshine who is in the previous race. That race rated poorly on the day; a couple of lengths slower than the maiden won by Row Row Power (1), who admittedly did have first use of the track. He'll likely have improvement second-up, resuming off a break without a trial. Lika Mosh (11) has been struggling to get a start in suitable races, but this looks winnable given what she did over 1009m last time out. She comfortably had the measure of stablemate Hypercube (9) on that occasion. Turk Boy (5) gives Glenn Stevenson three in the race, so it'll be worth keeping an eye for a market push of that trio. Stardarmus (3) hit the line well first but will need a good ride from a poor draw. Graphite Mist (10) went from last to first in her trial returning here after 285 days. There may be something in the Newitt booking, given he has ridden Dysart at both local starts. Rockierro (4) did enough in the same trial but barrier 13/13 makes it tough.
R9 Graham Family Funerals Bm68 Handicap, 1600m
Saxon Mist (7) looks to build on her brilliant mile record which includes a near miss behind subsequent winner Brazen Impact last start. She draws well and it's hard to see her running poorly. Princess Matoaka (6) was best of the rest behind Freak On A Lead in a race that was dominated from the front. Lily Luella (9) was one of the chasing pack there that couldn't get warm from the back. Capital Cheval (5) was favourite there, unable to slot in from a poor draw, eventually only beating a couple of runners home. Gee Gee Miss Quita (2) gets to 1600m quickly in her campaign but ran a bottler over 1200m first-up, despite racing wide. Zewinna (8) is rarely far away and draws to put herself up near the speed where she'd have every chance once again.
