3 minute read

Promising stayer Pennine made the step up from restricted company to win the $50,000 Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian St Leger (2400m) in Launceston on Friday night.

Pennine has now won four of his past five starts but was progressing from a BM64 at his most recent run and was having his first try at the distance.

"He settled beautifully. He's a lovely horse to ride in races; he just goes to sleep," trainer/rider Siggy Carr said.

"I'm just rapt for the owner Paul Smith, who bred this horse."

Well backed from $5 to start a warm favourite at $2.50, Pennine came from second last at the 400m and withheld a late charge from Travelling Gigolo ($5.50) with Clifton Dansuer ($17) third.

A Lazarus type effort

A horse that's lucky to be alive stamped himself as a potential topliner with a brilliant win in an 1100m maiden.

After a luckless debut when he drew wide and finished 12th of 14, Durazzo was sent out the popular pick, went straight to the front, and never looked like losing.

"We trialled him at Longford, and he jumped the crossing, and he now has four titanium screws in his fetlock.

"He's done a really good job this horse; he was in a box for three months, had three months on a treadmill, and six months work to get him here; he's a nice horse; he'll go places," trainer Barry Campbell explained.

Durazzo ($1.70) easily accounted for Bloomtime ($4.40) by 2.5 lengths, with Streets Ahead ($18) 6.5 lengths away in third.

Galenus showed he was right back to his best form with a strong effort to lead virtually all the way in the Open Hcp (1200m).

From gate eight in a field of nine, Chelsea Baker dashed the 7YO to the front about 100m after the start, and while he looked to be a sitting shot for Bello Beau ($4) who had a perfect trail, in the final 200m Galenus had all the answers.

Galenus ($5.50) has now won 10 races from 31 starts with nine placings. At his previous start, Galenus has finished a game second to Geegees Gemstone in the Royal Rambo Quality in Launceston on Cup Day.

A huge drop in grade from contesting the 3YO classics back to class 1 helped Thespian Waters get back into the winner's circle.

The Siggy Carr-trained youngster has been a model of consistency, and even though this was just his second win, he has been placed a further five times from just nine starts.

"He jumped a little bit slow, but Taylor (Johnstone) rode him accordingly, and she put him into the race at the right time, and the horse went great," Carr said.

"He's still improving, and he's still immature. We've had big wraps on him, and we still do. We think the horse is above average."

Well supported to start the $1.40 favourite, Thespian Waters, despite travelling wide, was too good for Rohzhae ($11) with Mandate ($11) third.