Bow Mistress lures its best

THE Bow Mistress Trophy has become one of the most sought after races for owners chasing black type for their fillies and mares and this Friday’s edition boasts arguably the best lineup since the race acquired Group 3 status.

The weight-for-age race over 1200 has prizemoney of $150,000 and it shares top billing with the $150,000 Listed Tasmanian Derby, though that has attracted only seven acceptors, three from Victoria.

Talented South Australian mare Gogo Grace has been in the state for a week and based on her impressive track gallop at Elwick in the inside grass yesterday morning the Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained mare should make an impact.

Ladbrokes has installed the two star Tasmanian mares as favourites with Life on the Wire from the Scott Brunton stable at $2.70 with Gee Gee Double Dee from the Leon Wells stable next best at $3.50. Gogo Grace is quoted at $7.

Top Victorian trainer Darren Weir has the top two in betting for the Tasmanian Derby in recent Hobart Guineas winner Wolfendale and his highly promising young stayers Civil Disobedience, which is the winner of three of his past five starts in Melbourne.

Civil Disobedience is a firm favourite at $2.10 in the Ladbrokes market ahead of Wolfendale at $4.60. The only other interstate invader is the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Youngtrained Kugelblitz, to be ridden by Damien Oliver in his first Tasmanian Derby. Kugelblitz has been installed third elect at $5 ahead of Double You Tee and Pennstock each at $7.

Three of the four local contenders all are fresh from the Hobart Guineas in which the John Blacker-trained Double You Tee was a luckless second to Wolfendale, while Pennstock (Barry Campbell) and Overlay (David Miller) finished third and fourth.

The remaining entry is the Team Wells-trained Gee Gees Saint Nik, a maiden from nine starts in Tasmania and the rank outsider at $41 but likely to start closer to $101.

Gee Gees Saint Nik is owned and raced by Paul and Elizabeth Geard, who won the Derby with Geegees Classicboy that also was a maiden before his Derby triumph in 2015 at $101.

The twilight meeting at Elwick on Friday will start at 3.57pm with the last of eight races set to go at 7.55pm with the rail in the true position.