Bob gets Ismadi’s job done

SINGAPORE apprentice Amirul Ismadi registered his first win in Tasmania when he partnered the Stuart Gandy-trained Gee Gee Red Prince to victory in a benchmark 88 handicap over 1220 min Launceston on Wednesday night.

Gee Gee Red Prince led but drifted up the track slightly in the home straight, opening the gate for Gee Gee Double Dee to challenge and, in a head-bobbing finish, Gandy’s star sprinter bobbed on the line.

It was his first win this preparation.

Given the way the Team Wells-trained Gee Gee Double Dee found the line, she is only a small step away from notching her first win of the season.

Ismadi, 23, arrived in Tasmania three weeks ago but comes with two Group 1 wins to his credit.

“I have settled in well here in Tasmania and while the racing here is completely different to Singapore, I have found it very competitive,” Ismadi said.

“We race a lot more at home and I have found the two tracks [Hobart and Launceston] quite different to assess.

“I am happy that I have my first winner and I’m also pleased it was on Gee Gee Red Prince because I think he is a very good sprinter.”

Ismadi has had his indentures temporarily transferred to Gandy and he is in the state on a three-month visa.

“I am here until midFebruary but maybe there would be a possibility of an extension that could take me through to the end of your summer carnival,” he said.

Gandy was full of praise for the talented rider.

“It is a bonus to have Amirul at the stable because he is quite a talented young horseman and he is a pleasure to be around,” he said.

TOP jockey Craig Newitt rode four winners on the ninerace card but he left the course with a one-meeting suspension that will cost him some plumb rides at Wednesday night’s feature meeting.

Newitt copped the suspension for a rule infringement in race three that he won aboard the Gary White-trained Pompon.

He will not apply for a deferment as that would prevent him representing Tasmania in a national jockey challenge in Queensland on December 8-9. Newitt will miss the ride aboard the Barry Campbell-trained Derasa in next week’s $50,000 3YO Cup, in which the filly is likely to start favourite.

However, Victorian-based rider Damian Thornton has picked up all of Newitt’s intended rides for Campbell, of which there are six, including Fragment and last-start winner Moorcroft.

Campbell may have uncovered a major cups prospect in lightly raced fouryear-old Eastender, who was one of Newitt’s four winners.

Eastender was having only his second start this preparation, in a benchmark 72 handicap over 2130m. but he made light of the task to score by over three lengths from Flash Missile.

Newitt said he might be lightly raced but he was a serious stayer who would make his presence felt in the Hobart and Launceston cups.

“From what I’ve seen, there isn’t a horse in Tassie who will come near this horse up to 2400m so they might as well aim him at the big cups,” he said.