Good Friday family event a hit
when he eased him three-wide to challenge the gelding knuckled down to his task and had just enough in hand to stave off a late bid from Supergrass ($20), who flashed home along the rails. IN-FORM trainer Adam Trinder had the privilege of saddling up the first winner at a Good Friday meeting in Tasmania when his smart threeyear-old filly Pretzel Logic led THE decision by the Tasmanian Turf Club to throw open its gates for the inaugural Good Friday meeting in Launceston yesterday was a winner, with the event drawing a crowd second in numbers to Launceston Cup day.
The club marketed the event as a family day and that’s how it panned out, with mums, dads and children queueing up throughout to win the Tassal Maiden over 1200m.
The filly was well backed to start the $2.40 favourite on the strength of her impressive trials leading up to her debut race.
Stable apprentice Chris Graham urged the filly from the barriers and she had no trouble dictating the speed.
After slipping two lengths clear turning for home she had early to secure a good spot on the lawns in front of the grandstand to watch the film Peter Rabbit on the big screen.
The numbers swelled as the first race drew near, and by 3pm the stage was set for what was one of the best race meetings at the venue outside Launceston Cup day.
Top jockey Craig Newitt made the most of the family day atmosphere by venturing to the meeting with family and enough in reserve to stave off determined challenges over the final 200m.
Another well-backed firststarter Furtheronova ($3.40) also ran on well and should be winning soon. SILVER ROAD made it successive wins when he gunned down race leader Motown Blues to score a narrow but game victory in a benchmark 58 handicap over 1200m. after he rode the winner of race two his son Reign and partner Breaana Smith were there to help him celebrate.
“This is brilliant and hats off to the club for putting on a free gate,” Newitt said.
TTC CEO Peter Scott said the meeting was a huge success.
“We wanted to make it a family day and the people of Launceston have shown their support by turning out in big numbers,” Scott said.
The John Blacker-trained gelding had a trip to Victoria for a second placing at Geelong and returned to the state to score an impressive win in Devonport.
Motown Blues was heavily backed in from $7 to start the $3.40 favourite, but when jockey Craig Newitt called on the gelding he powered home to grab victory in the last few strides of the race.
Hobart boasted a sevenrace harness meeting and while the crowd was nowhere near as big, Tasmanian Trotting Club secretary Steve Devereux said the meeting was successful.
“Our crowd was probably around 400-500 but considering we never promoted it until late we are more than happy with the outcome and believe the meeting is here to stay,” Devereux said.