3 minute read
Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson looks to have found the right race for his former NSW galloper Obvious Step that lines up in the Seba Sheetmetal BM68 handicap over 1880 metres in Devonport on Sunday.
In Brief
- Former NSW mare ready to notch first Tassie win.
- Bethpage saved for opening race in Devonport.
- Boom Dot Com should give big sight on Sunday.
Obvious Step has had three runs for Glenn Stevenson in benchmark 62 events and the furthest back she has finished is fourth with her last-start second to Hero of Romani over 1420m in Launceston three weeks ago her best effort.
"I would have liked this race to be over 1650m, but you have to take what's available, but in saying that, I am confident she is capable of running the distance right out," Stevenson said.
"She missed a gallop last Saturday when the weather up here was so bad it was unsafe to gallop horses, but her work since has been good and her residual fitness should get her through."
Obvious Step placed third to Skilendra at her first start for Stevenson and followed up with a luckless fourth to the same horse over 1650m, beaten a length.
Stevenson has half the field engaged in the opening race, the Thai Imperial 0-60 Handicap over 1150m with Bethpage expected to be the stable's best winning chance with Anthony Darmanin aboard.
"I booked Darma (Darmanin) three weeks ago to ride Bethpage as I believe he will be best suited to the mare, and I have kept her fresh for this race.
Malevolent has trialled well since joining the stable from Victoria (in May), but he might need the run and Rhyme Writer is always a chance in this type of race and he has drawn well in gate one.
"All three of mine could win without surprising but on her work, Bethpage is probably the best winning chance."
Stevenson's quality mare Boom Dot Com is second-up from a short spell and looms as a strong each-way chance in the Orio Security Protection BM76 over 1350m (race six).
"It's a nice race for the mare and the winkers go back on with some solid pace in the race, so I expect her to be very competitive.
"Hopefully Darma can have her in a nice spot in the first few and the way the Devonport track has been racing of late, I reckon she will be coming down the middle of the track in the straight under a full head of steam."
Stevenson's handy gelding Turk Delight has shown little on race day this preparation, but the trainer says the five-year-old has turned the corner in the training track and expects improvement in the Carlton Draught BM60 handicap over 1350m.
"I couldn't be happier with Turk Delight because he's had a bit of a cough and a setback or two, but that's all behind him, so he will run a cheeky race and I am looking forward to getting him out to a mile."
