Locally trained favourites have won the Tasmanian Derby and Mystic Journey Stakes
In a way, the first day of the Hobart Cup carnival was redemption for local trainers as they took the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) and Group 3 Mystic Journey Stakes (1200m).
Adam Trinder was the last Tasmanian trainer to win the Derby with Jerilderie Letter in 2016 but Likeakalix, trained by Leanne Gaffney, ensured the trophy would remain in Tasmania with a strong win in the $150,000 feature at Hobart.
Ridden by David Pires, the even money favourite wore down $3.80 second elect Kicking King, who made a mid-race move from last to take the lead, eventually scoring by half a length, with 2-1/4 lengths back to Moorlands Miss in third.
Leanne’s son and former training partner Clinton Gaffney said the win meant a lot to his family.
“It’s massive, we’ll certainly enjoy it,” Gaffney said.
“You can’t do it without the owners and they’ve been a great support and have stuck with us. There’s a couple of people in there, it’s their first horse so you couldn’t probably ask for too much more for your first horse.”
Pires, who has been aboard for Likeakalix’s past three wins, said the victory contained plenty of merit.
“They went so slow that he wanted to over-race onto the heels of Moreland Miss,” Pires said.
“Got a little bit lost everywhere he went, around the corner, in the home straight. But he’s a serious horse and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do next prep.”
Two races after, top three-year-old filly Geegees Mistruth took out the Group 3 Mystic Journey Stakes (1200m) in dominant fashion, with the heavily supported even money favourite becoming the first Tasmanian horse to win the race since Life On The Wire for Scott Brunton in 2019.
Jockey Anthony Darmanin was able to slot in one out, one back from barrier 10 and never looked like losing from there, scoring by two lengths from Victorian raider Dazzling Lucy ($7.50) with $18 chance In Her Stride grabbing third.
Trainer Stuart Gandy was emotional post-race but did suggest that Geegees Mistruth would be kept to sprinting trips in the future.
“For her to win like that, it’s quite emotional, for Elizabeth (owner, breeder), she’s bred a lot of horses, raced a lot of horses, supported a lot of people in the industry,” Gandy said.
“She’s a really special horse… we were confident, we don’t like to beat our chests and do the talk but she let her racing do the work today, she’s a very good filly.”
“I think she proved today she’s a pretty good sprinter, we’ll just go home and see where we go.”
