3 minute read

A veteran trainer and a comeback jockey have the chance to combine for a winning double at this Sunday’s Devonport meeting, the fourth in succession on the synthetic surface.

Michael Trinder and Kelvin Sanderson are teaming together with Chicane in the Tasmanian Horse Transport Class 1 (1350m) and Macs Relaxed in the 1880m Dean Rawlings Snr Memorial BM68.

Both horses are racing well. Chicane has had just the one start for Trinder, finishing second a fortnight ago in a similar race, while Macs Relaxed has won four of his past five starts since joining the Trinder stable.

"I mentioned to Michael after he won last start that it was probably his best win, just going by the way Michael trains his horses you expect them to go a little dour, he does put a lot of work into them, but he might be a little bit better than what we think.

"If he keeps improving, he could head towards a Golden Mile or even a Devonport Cup," Sanderson said.

They are the only two acceptors Trinder has at the meeting. Sanderson, on the other hand, has seven rides, and the majority look to have winning chances.

"There are a few horses there that have good chances, it's hard to split some of them really."

Besides the Trinder pair, Sanderson will ride Mr. Rouquin and Gee Gee Can Win who both look strong chances in the respective races along with newcomer Syrup, a 5YO who is now with Steve Davis after previously being trained in Victoria by Lee and Shannon Hope.

"His form in Victoria is okay, he hasn't been beaten all that far, they've played around with gear, blinkers on blinkers off, visors on, visors off but we are going to start him over here with no gear on.

"His work during the week has been nice, I'm not going to say he can win but anything he does on Sunday I think he will improve on."

After almost eight years away, Sanderson returned to the saddle in March last year.

"I'm actually really enjoying it, I've probably come back with a bit of a different mentality than what I had some years ago."

Although markets are yet to be released, with such a strong book of rides, Sanderson would be the likely jockey challenge favourite.

"It would be nice to have someone favourite for a change other than Darmanin," Sanderson said with a laugh.

"He'll get to stir me if I am favourite because we gave it to him when he was the $1.16 favourite."

My best bets are two Sanderson rides, Chicane in race 3 and Mr. Rouquin in race 4.

It's a late start with the first timed to go at 13:25 and the last of eight at 17.35. The meeting will be live hosted on TasracingTV by Jacob Bevis.