Dog’s barking for the Derby
TRAINER John Blacker declared his three-year-old Swoop Dog potentially the best he has trained after the gelding scored an emphatic win in the $100,000 Listed Kevin Sharkie Launceston Guineas over 2100 metres in Launceston on Wednesday night.
At his previous start Swoop Dog won the $100,000 Tasmanian Guineas over 1600m and while he was unproven over 2100 metres, Blacker was supremely confident he would not only handle the trip but be more impressive and he was right.
Swoop Dog ($1.80 fav) settled fourth while the second elect First Accused ($3) led, with his stablemate Brandum Bay ($27) happy to take the trail.
Maskiell started to urge Swoop Dog forward 700m from home to ensure he was in touch with the leaders at the top of the straight.
When he called on the son of Husson for the big effort he quickly cruised alongside the leaders and while the stablemates were game, they had no answer to Swoop Dog.
“When this horse first came into my stable, I was confident he would be a really good one and each preparation he impressed me and now I reckon he could be my best ever,” Blacker said.
“He now goes to the Tasmanian Derby as proven over 2100m and clearly the best young stayer in the state and they will want to bring something better than second-tier horses from interstate to beat him in the Derby because he will improve heaps from this run.”
Maskiell was thrilled to secure a Listed win and believes Snoop Dog is a genuine stayer.
“This horse settles so well and goes to sleep, and he has such a great turn of foot that puts him into the race, and they are great assets for a stayer,” Maskiell said.
Blacker and Maskiell combined with Blaze Forth in the following race to win the $50,000 weight-for-age Ladbrokes Stakes over 1200m to spoil the party for champion Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey, who was having her first start in the state in almost two years and was $1.10 favourite.
Blaze Forth went onto the race rock-hard fit and once he landed in front Blacker said he was confident he would win.