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Trainer Monica Ryan is predicting a bright future for her 3YO Them’s The Breaks who won her first race in the 1400m maiden at her sixth start in Launceston on Friday afternoon.
The filly had put the writing on the wall at her previous couple of runs when she had finished just behind the placegetters over 1200m and was perfectly suited by the step up in distance.
"She has always been a hard luck story going along, but Craig Newitt has done a wonderful job today getting her to midfield halfway through, and with what she has shown us, I think she is going to be a really good horse next year,"MonicaRyan said.
Despite being wide around the home turn,Them's The Breaks won easing down by three lengths and landed some solid bets firming from $5 to start $3.
Freak leads all the wayNewitt notched a winning double when a heady ride helped Freak On A Lead ($12) win the 1400m BM68, and tip a lot of punters out of the quaddie with the long odds on favourite Asva ($1.40) out of a place.
From the outside gate and the rail off, Newitt sped Freak On A lead to the front but was content to sit away from the fence. While he was getting tired in the last 100m, the 6-year-old had enough in hand to beat Navy Street ($7.50) and Fighting Floyd ($23) in a blanket finish.
"To his credit, he's all ticker. He had a big weight, he had to do it from the front, he was out on his feet, but he kept trying hard," Newitt said.
"That race turned into a 1600m race for him because I sat so wide on the track, I cut back in around the corner and then came back out into the better ground in the straight."
A drifter in the market from his opening quote of $5.50, Freak On A lead has now won eight races from 36 starts.
On the payrollBankroll Benny is starting to live up to his name, with a narrow win in the 1100m maiden, and in the process, upset a huge plunge on the runner-up.
Having his ninth start, Bankroll Benny ($6.50) was always on the speed. He hit the front at the 200m and lasted to score by a half head over first starter Wickham Light ($6.50 – $2.30), who came from well back and should be in the winner's stall very soon.
Leanne Gaffney trains Bankroll Benny in Devonport who is getting her team ready for a return to racing on the synthetic track.
"He's got a lot of growing up to do, but his ability is unquestionable.
"We hope he is a bankroll. He's started it now, and even though he hasn't won (until today), he's been very honest," the trainer said.
"We've got our biggest team in work, we go well on our home track and so most of our horses will be aimed there."
Bankroll Benny was ridden by the in-form Chelsea Baker who made it five winners from her past 13 rides.
While the Stevenson stable missed out on the plunge with Wickham Light, they bounced back in the next, with outsider Mystic Hope winning the 1600m maiden/class 1.
A drifter from $16 – $41, Mystic Hope bustled into a forward position just after the start. After grabbing the lead around the turn, she proved too strong for Hewie ($7.50) and Speed Rock ($9).
"His work said he should win; I think the key there was a great ride.
"Daniel (Ganderton); you could see how vigorous he was and got him into a spot and kept him there," Stevenson said.
