Big time beckons star duo

TWO Tasmanian gallopers will make their interstate debuts at Flemington today.

Talented three-year-old filly Derasa will tackle the Ron Taylor Handicap for threeyear-olds over 1000m, and the Edwin Batt-trained Monmouth lines up in the Henry Bolte Handicap for three-yearolds over 2000m, with Craig Newitt in the saddle.

Derasa heads to Melbourne unbeaten from three starts this season with her latest a win in Launceston and most pundits described it as an outstanding effort given the circumstances over the concluding stages of the race over 1100m. The Barry Campbell-trained filly was held up behind the leaders most of the way up the home straight, but when Newitt was able to ease her back and extract her almost at a right angle she powered home to win by a length against older and more experienced opposition.

She was still only .02 off the track record on a track rated a soft 5.

Campbell decided to head to Melbourne because there were insufficient suitable races for her in Tasmania.

“I always knew we would have to test the water with her eventually, but it’s come a bit sooner than I expected,” Campbell said.

“She has run into a pretty good field on Saturday, but at least we will know where she’s at as far as the big picture is concerned. The filly has trav- elled well and provided the track plays fairly she should give a good showing.”

Derasa will carry 56kg, the same weight she lugged to victory last start, and she has drawn barrier four for the trip up the Flemington straight.

However, she is in the last race on the nine-event card and at previous meetings there has been a tendency for the swoopers to flash down the outside or at least in the middle of the track late in the day.

Derasa, part-owned by this writer, is to be ridden by Newitt who has been aboard on all of her starts this time in.

“At the moment the track looks to be in great shape and there shouldn’t be any bias but I am hoping the inside is the place to be and if so the others will know she’s in the race,” Newitt said.

The filly has been backed in from $71 that was offered by one corporate bookmaker when the prices first went up on Wednesday afternoon, but the best available with most of the corporate bookies is $26.

Monmouth carried 59kg to victory in Hobart two weeks ago in a maiden-class one over 2100m in which he showed his courage to lead and fight on when seriously challenged all the way up the home straight.

The three-year-old drops to the minimum of 54kg today and Newitt has been booked to ride the gelding.