Big finish has Tassie star on path to Perth

PLANS to aim talented Tasmanian pacer Devendra at the Inter Dominion series in Perth next month are unchanged despite the star finishing second in a standing start handicap over 2579m in Hobart on Sunday.

Devendra came off the back mark of 40m but stepped cleanly and made up ground.

When called on by trainerdriver Todd Rattray to make his move 600m out he ran on resolutely to fail by 2.7m behind Fernco Bobby G (NZ), who enjoyed the run of the race off the front row.

“We just need to get the horse race-fit and I was more than pleased with his effort on Sunday,” Rattray said.

“They ran home quick with the winner clocking 56.6 for his last half mile [800m] so my bloke would have run home in 55 and a bit, so that’s pleasing.”

Devendra contested the Inter Dominion championship series in Perth two years ago and he won two of the three heats to warrant plenty of support in the final. But he was caught on a limb in the final and faded to finish last of 10.

Devendra was prepared by James Rattray for that Inter Dominion campaign and he was being prepared for another tilt but he suffered a leg injury, which meant he missed almost all of last season. He resumed with placings at his first three starts in Tasmania between June and August before winning a free-for-all in Hobart last month, defeating last season’s Easter Cup winner and stablemate Pachacuti.

The gelded son of Bettors Delight galloped away in a standing start event at his next outing in Launceston before making amends with this latest effort.

“I’ll run him in a free-for-all over a mile [1609m] in Launceston on Sunday and he’ll have another start soon after and then we’ll decide whether we push ahead with the Inter Dominion plan,” Rattray said.