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The Tasmanian Turf Club hosts their final meeting of the 2021/22 thoroughbred season with a big nine-race card on Sunday.
As it was for the previous Launceston meeting on 26 June, the rail is a long way out, +8m 1200m – W/Post and + 7m for the remainder. This is the same rail position used for the Good Friday program.
The track is a soft 6 at the time of writing on Friday morning and I've done my form for a surface in the 6-7 range.
R1 Ladbrokes 2yo Hcp, 1120m
Both VOKES (6) and MUSCLE UP (3) were beaten odds on favourites at the same Devonport program earlier in the month. Vokes was a step slow from the gates and was fair trailing the leader from there. Muscle Up laid in under riding in the home straight and arguably wins if he went straight. This is the first grass run for the Trinder runner while Vokes already has a dominant Launceston win to her credit. UNIQUE GLOW (5) hasn't raced since the Sires Produce where she was a good thing beaten after racing wide without cover. ELLA EXCEEDS (7) was only fair when she returned by may appreciate getting back on the grass. Debutantes MIAMI SUN (2), MADJACK (1) and MISS VIVACE (8) come off reasonable trial performances and the market may provide a guide as to what's under the hood given there's some decent exposed form from the raced brigade.
R2 Kevin Sharkie Mdn/cl1, 2150m
I'M SO COOL (3) was a winner here two starts ago and then after handing up the front in Hobart, he was unable to catch the leader. He crossed the line with CAMPEAO (4) there who trailed the leader. The staying trip shouldn't be a negative for either with the same said for FURTHER NORTH (7) who came from the tail of the field in the same race. EIGHT MARGARITAS (5) had the right run and broke through for a maiden win last Sunday. She settled near last when she finished behind I'm So Cool the start prior. FOUR LETTER WORD (6) was beaten just over three lengths in a Launceston Oaks here back in February which is great form dropping back to this grade. She settles well back in her races which has worked heavily against her in recent Hobart performances. HOBART (2) has the blinkers replacing winkers and the first two across the line put a decent gap on the rest in a recent trial.
R3 Australian Trainers Association Maiden, 1420m
ANONYMOUS SOURCE (2) has placed in both Tasmanian starts, each on the Devonport synthetic. He's likely to land in a forward spot which could be beneficial in the capacity field. GEE GEES CHORIS (11) has run on well at her last two starts, finishing just ahead of MULTISANTI (4) at the latest. They both draw wide with Multisanti assured of starting from the widest gate. CYCLONE LOUIE (10) has a few gear changes for her second start with Sarah Cotton. Some form has come out of the Hobart race won by Nina Carmella. LABBY ROCK (13) had a huge task from the rear against the pattern of the day last time and looks ready for 1400m now. WILD DESTINY (9) is a 28-start maiden, but this looks a race that could be won by that type of horse. LADY INDY (14) comes via the same race and has scope to improve at her second career run, particularly with the winkers on.
R4 Armidale Stud Bm62 Hcp, 1420m
OBVIOUS STEP (6) has been a beaten favourite in two Tassie runs but raced wide without cover in both. She has a new pilot with Daniel Ganderton taking the ride and Codi Jordan aboard stablemate HIGH MAINTENANCE (4) who was poor off a break in Hobart. ZEVA ROYALE (12) missed a start in Devonport as emergency and arrives here looking for a hat-trick across the three main racetracks. Alpine Aviator came from behind her to win last week and she showed she can handle a soft track two starts ago. RING OF HONOUR (1) came from well back to win in Devonport and will likely need to do the same from a wide draw. THE BEEKEEPER (7) resumes with a good first-up record, but I wasn't overly taken by a recent Hobart trial. Any on-pace advantage will suit him along with WEEKEND WHISKY (3). Both TIESTO (9) and LUCA BRATZI (10) have had recent stable changes and though racing in good form, are a long time out of the winner's circle. IVORYMAN (2) can't be ruled out in a race like this, having a very good T&D record. HERO OF ROMANI (5) hasn't really flattered in recent runs and will be a watch on how the inside is holding up after a few races on the program.
R5 Access Hardware 3yo Hcp, 1220m
QUEENBOROUGH FLYER (8) was in season when disappointing at her second career start, her first following an injury setback after her debut win. She's on trust a little as to whether we'll see the horse who won or the one that only beat a single runner home. DAWN EAGLE (11) was very good here two starts ago and that saw her well-supported last Sunday where she was only fair. TARKINE EAGLE (7) beat limited opposition in Hobart but did so in dominant fashion. She's having her eighth start for Tammy Mollross so may not have the improvement a few others do. MASTER SUN (3) almost doubled in price at his first Tassie start and ran accordingly. Expect improvement, particularly after his trial earlier in the week and he gets the blinkers on. RICH CLAN (2) has a T&D win over Romary who goes around in the open class race later in the day. GEEGEELUCKYSTAR (1) and GEE GEE ENUF SPEED (6) come via the same Hobart trial which was the slowest of six 800m trials that day. WANE'S QUEST (9), BELLE CADEAU (10) and FIGHTING STYX (13) arrive off decent last start performances and must have each-way claims. Any on-pace rail advantage will help NEED A FLUTTER (12). CHARLIE BUCKET (4) tackles a handicap on debut. He finished just ahead of Madjack in a recent trial who is engaged in the first race.
R6 The Examiner Newspaper Class 3 Hcp, 1220m
THELMA (2) returned with a courageous win at the T&D where she kicked back when appearing a sitting shot in the home straight. She's trialled since that run and the performance suggests she's only taken improvement. I'M BACK (1) was well-supported in Hobart but couldn't take much ground off the leaders which was a theme for the day. ENTRAPPED (5) was a spent force early in that race and should strip fitter here. SEGUIMIENTOS (11) also comes via that formline and comes into the mix if swoopers have their chance. MOSHAMA (7) and GEE GEE RHYTHYM (8) both ran on well in the opening race here a month ago, finishing just behind I'm Back. STEFANIDI (9) will be belting home but will need everything to go right over this distance. BLUSHED (4) got out to a trip last campaign and resumes here without a trial. UNVANQUISHABLE (3) hasn't raced below 1390m in six Tasmanian starts and has his first run since officially joining the Siggy Carr stable.
R7 R.f. Fergusson Memorial Open Hcp, 1220m
JULIUS (4) has been dominant on the Devonport synthetic and now gets a chance to do it on the grass in Launceston where he has won previously. He was superb last time and drops 3.5kg which makes it tough for a horse like JAJA CHABOOGIE (6) who looks better placed but meets him worse at the weights for a comfortable defeat. MUSIC ADDITION (3) has been a great pick-up for Glenn Stevenson, tasting defeat only once in four starts for the stable. Codi Jordan will have an early decision to make from a potentially sticky barrier. Stablemate MUSIC DOT COM (7) relishes a bit of give in the track and will be hoping horses can run on by this stage of the day. GEE GEE SECONDOVER (1) is a good example of how much easier rating points go on than come off. He's 1/10 since the 2020 Newmarket but has the same rating he did following that Newmarket triumph. He'll give at least 4kg to the field even with Taylor Johnstone's claim.
R8 Southern Cross Open Hcp, 1620m
TAKE THE SIT (1) was a dominant winner here when she resumed but was found out last time when she ventured to Caulfield. The stewards report indicated she pulled up lame last start but clearly if she's here the issue was minor, and she has a significant class edge on her rivals. REWARD ACHIEVER (5) was racing out of her grade in Hobart but made light work of that, even after being slowly away. Except for the toppy, this is a similar line-up. ROMARY (4) covered ground in that race but was awful all the same. SIR SIMON (3) sat outside a strong lead tempo and boxed on ok. TAVIRUN (2) plummets in weight and comes back to a mile after being a beaten favourite over the Hobart staying trip. MISS CHARLIE BROWN (6) jumps quickly from 1150m to a mile. She wasn't disgraced first-up despite failing to beat a runner home however all three of her wins have come against her own age group.
R9 Jkb Racing Class 1 Hcp, 1620m
DOONICAN (1) arrives in Tassie from the Queensland stables of Chris Waller and appears to find a very winnable race. He came from worse than midfield to win off a moderate tempo last start on the Gold Coast and has the services of the state's in-form rider Chelsea Baker. FIFE AND DRUM (4) broke through at his first start for Barry Campbell, but the strength of that race doesn't look strong. The winning time was over two seconds slower than the race BELL RINGER BOY (5) and HELLFIRE EAGLE (3) come through on the same day. STARION (2) has done little to repay the $60k connections paid for him in November last year. His trial can get a push if Hobart runs well earlier. POWEFUL PEBBLES (7) gets a mile back and runs on which is why she's placed far more often than she's won. BAHEERA (8) ran better than a $71 SP in Hobart and is another that can have that form franked earlier.
