The Tassie Racing Carnival kicks into gear on Friday at Hobart where it is Tasmanian Derby Day. The weather is overcast, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (15:57) Hazell Brothers Maiden 1100m
7 Banca Bet (Bet Now: $2.90) on top for me in the opener on Derby Day. Daughter of Therock on debut for the Scott Brunton team off the back of a solid recent trial placing on the inside course here over 900m in okay time. Doesn’t look to be the strongest race going around so I’ll lean her way in a tricky race.
9 Gee Gees Liberty (Bet Now: $2.90) is a daughter of Wordsmith for the Dean/Wells yard who is a ten start maiden but of the raced brigade, she’s the pick. She ran in a 1200m maiden at Launceston in mid December where she loomed large but died on the run to settle for fourth. Five winners have come out of that race which is a big tick.
Not really a long shot but there is only three chances. 5 Treeconi (Bet Now: $3.30) is on the quick back up after racing at Launceston last Wednesday night where she settled last in the field of six before peeling out and finishing off with purpose to just miss out on the win when second to Thewordsout. Knocking on the door and gets a great chance her against this lot.
Race 2. (16:34) New Town Plaza Maiden 1400m
3 Shackley’s Hill (Bet Now: $4.20) the one to beat. This gelding ran over 1200m here last time out where he got back off the pace but worked home nicely late in the piece to run third to Geegees Cash Cow. The step up to 1400m looks ideal and draws to sit just off the pace. Keen on his chances with Darmanin steering.
9 Nahla (Bet Now: $4.80) is a mare who is just bursting to win a race and I think she gets a great chance here. She ran over 1200m at Launceston last time out where she was tucked in behind the speed before angling clear and chasing hard, only to just miss out on picking up Go For It. That form reads well for this.
8 Lucky I’m Here (Bet Now: $41.00) is a few weeks between runs since racing over 1220m at Launceston where she sat out the back and couldn’t really come on to be a winning threat but her effort was sound behind Classic Western. Bigger track should help her cause and I think up to 1400m no disadvantage.
Race 3. (17:14) The Mercury Handicap (82) 1600m
Giving 7 Zatacla (Bet Now: $6.50) another look here. This horse has been luckless at his past two outings, both at Launceston over the mile, the latest coming last Wednesday behind Player One when never really clear of a pocket. Does tend to race much better at Hobart, so if the breaks go his way here, I think he’ll go very close.
4 Player One (Bet Now: $4.20) won the race mentioned above that Zatacla had no luck in. It came as a big shock to punters given he was near $101 to win, but to his credit, he did show a lovely turn of foot and won with a fair bit of ease. That was his first career win away from Hobart, so back on his favourite track, I think he can run a ripper once again.
3 Beaufort Lad (Bet Now: $5.50) hasn’t raced since January 17 over the mile at Launceston where he got a fair way back off the pace but worked to the line with real purpose late in the piece behind Speed Force. Not the greatest of records at Hobart, but Froggy remains and his combination with the Blacker camp has been very good in recent times.
Race 4. (17:49) Carbine Club 3YO 1100m
1 Uber Ed (Bet Now: $3.40) on top. Scott Brunton trains this three year old, who hasn’t raced since May when running a game second to quality filly Gee Gee Lanett. Been given a really good break and has been prepared for his return with a couple of really nice trial efforts. Just has to overcome the tricky draw to look the winner.
4 Gee Gee Trendsetter (Bet Now: $6.00) is a talented daughter of Wordsmith who is first up for the Gandy yard. This girl hasn’t raced since November 22 when running a game second to Il Regalo over 1200m at Launceston. Trial win here last week was very good to the eye and her career best efforts have come first up.
7 Effortless Opera (Bet Now: $10.00) is a lightly raced filly for the Dean/Wells yard who has placed in all three career outings, all of which have come on the Devonport Synthetic. Two seconds with a win in between, and the win was dominant, with the form being strong out of that race with two subsequent winners. Draws to get a sweet run also.
Race 5. (18:22) Michael Kent Handicap (72) 1200m
I’ll cop the tip that Pires chooses 2 Love Magic (Bet Now: $3.30). This Magic Albert gelding is first up for the Brunton camp after a two run Spring prep, both of which came over 1100m here. Narrow third first up before a closing fourth behind Gee Gee Lanett. Given a quiet trial, but is a noted first up performer and 1200m fresh tells me there is intent to run well.
1 The Captain (Bet Now: $4.80) is a stablemate of Love Magic who is hard fit and racing really well. He attempted to lead all the way over 1200m at Launceston last time out where he gave a really good kick but was outgunned late by Harvey Bay. Really good record at Hobart, maps well and should take some beating.
4 Red Spyder (Bet Now: $7.00) is a former Victorian who had his first run for the Gary White camp over 1100m here on January 12 where he got well back off the speed and had to ease off heels in what was a total forgive. I think a really good lead here is that Froggy is booked to ride. Definite yard/market watch.
Race 6. (18:54) Schweppes Tasmanian Derby 2200m
7 Kugelblitz (Bet Now: $4.80) is a progressive gelding for the Busuttin/Young team who is a few weeks between runs after racing in a Werribee maiden last time out where Meech gave the three year old an absolute gem of a ride on speed, controlling things to suit and then dashing like a good horse on the turn and putting them away. Confident he can measure up.
1 Civil Disobedience (Bet Now: $1.70) put up a huge effort to win two back at Flemington over 2000m on New Years Day, when heavily backed and fending off subsequent city winner and stablemate Last Week. Ran at the same track/distance next start and was just fair when third. Blinkers come off now and Allen remains on.
4 Double You Tee (Bet Now: $8.00) is the pick of the locals and he’ll run a beauty here for sure. He comes through the Hobart Guineas where he surged hard from the back late but had to settle for a narrow second to Wolfendale. I don’t think that’s a strong form reference overall, but one thing we know is that the trip won’t be an issue.
Race 7. (19:25) Carlton Draught Bow Mistress Trophy 1200m
2 Gee Gee Double Dee (Bet Now: $3.50) is a ripping mare for the Dean/Wells team who comes here off the back of a last start win in the Lady Lynette where she was crunched at the red figures and the punters got it right as she came with a well timed run under Siggy Car to continue the picket fence in the form. Has the good draw and won’t be far off in the run.
Have to side with 4 Life On The Wire (Bet Now: $2.70). Scott Brunton trains this mare who returns home after a prep in Melbourne which saw her win a couple of races on the bounce at Sandown over 1400m and each time she was tough in winning, doing the work on speed and fighting hard. Think she’ll have to do something similar, but see no reason why not.
10 Jocasta (Bet Now: $23.00) is a crazy price here for mine. She is going really well I think for the Corstens team but just has this horrible racing pattern of getting out the back and giving away an impossible start. That was the case last start over the 955m at Moonee Valley and again she charged home when second to Sister Kitty Mac. She’ll be strong late. Just how far back does she get.
Race 8. (19:55) Royal Australian Navy Handicap (Class 1) 1200m
1 Banca Boy (Bet Now: $6.50) for me in the get out. Scott Brunton trains this gelding, who hasn’t raced in nearly a year. Last raced on Feb 22 at Launceston when third to Lord Derby. Big ask to win off the long break but his trial win recently was great to the eye and the stable finds John Allen for the resumption. Good lead for mine.
2 Classic Western (Bet Now: $3.80) took an absolute eternity to break the maiden tag but he finally got it out of the way last time out over the 1220m at Launceston when working home with purpose out wide under Froggy to get a narrow maiden win. Newitt stays on which is a good sign. Just has to figure out a path from the draw.
8 Woohoo (Bet Now: $31.00) had absolutely no friends in the market when resuming over 1200m at Launceston and the punters got it right as he sat midfield and as soon as he found his position, he went backwards. Trial leading in was too good to ignore off that flop. Happy to give him another look, and he should be really good odds.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Six Number 7 Kugelblitz
NEXT BEST: Race Five Number 2 Love Magic
VALUE: Race Three Number 7 Zatacla
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 1, 2, 4, 7
Leg Two: 1, 2, 4, 7
Leg Three: 1, 2, 4, 8, 10
Leg Four: 1, 2, 3, 6, 8
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