3 minute read
Three winning hopes in Launceston.
The training partnership of Tanya Hanson and her nephew Kyle Maskiell will take a small team of three to the Launceston meeting on Wednesday night, but all three look to have a chance of winning their respective races.
The team has been enjoying plenty of success recently; from their past 10 starters, they have had two winners and four placegetters.
Consistent galloper Speed Rock will represent the stable in the 2100m Maiden/Class 1. The 6YO has had five different training combinations in his 34-start career and is having his fifth run for Hanson/Maskiell, and his first try at the trip.
"He's an older horse. He's had a lot of starts but I think now he's happy and content, and he's racing accordingly.
"It will be interesting to see how he goes over the 2100m. He had a run at Devonport over 1880m, so that will be his test, but I don't see why he shouldn't," Hanson said.
Hanson thinks Tricky Mikki in the Class 1 (1400m) will be the strongest winning hope from the stable. She will be ridden by their apprentice Lauryn Bingley, who is riding on the crest of a wave with a winning double last Friday night, and three winners from her past five rides.
"We are so proud of her. She is doing so well, she's working really hard, and it's paying dividends."
Tricky Mikki has been placed at three of her past four runs and comes off a solid second to Sushi Express over 1200m last start.
"She's an honest mare; she's won only one race, but she has had seven placings including six seconds.
"She's an absolute little trier; she will run well again, be up on the pace. There's a couple of good ones in it, but I still expect her to put in a good run."
The stable rounds out the night with And Beyond in the Open Hcp (1400m). He's been a frustration for his trainers over the past couple of seasons, but after two runs in from a spell, if he can produce his best, he will be in the finish.
"He got a bit claustrophobic in the barriers, and he had a lot of barrier issues; we had worked those out, last start, even though he jumped when the gates opened, he behaved himself in the barriers, so that was a good start; he's a big strider, he needs room.
"Without a doubt, he's lost his way the past couple of seasons, but last start, he got caught in among the field. He had nowhere to go, but once he got out, he really dug deep, so I was really proud of him."
And Beyond won his first six race starts, his overall record now stands at 24 starts for eight wins.
After a false start in Hobart on Sunday, Kasi Boxall will make her return to race riding after 17 years in the first event on the card with Geegee Strawberry. She was due to make her comeback in Hobart, but her only ride was scratched.
It's an early start and finish for the second last night meeting of the season, with race one at 17:28 and the last at 21:00. My best is Lontano in the first race, and one at odds, Lika Mosh, could run a race at odds in the fourth.
All the action from Launceston can be seen on TasracingTV with Duncan Dornauf hosting the coverage.
