Summer prospects take Elwick sample
SOME of the horses expected to contest feature races during the Ladbrokes Summer Carnival were given grass gallops at Elwick on Thursday morning, most in preparation for races at Elwick next week and Devonport Cup Day on January 11.
Scott Brunton-trained The Inevitable looked good in his gallop on the course proper dashing up the last 400m with regular race rider David Pires aboard in what was his last tune up for next Friday’s weight-for-age Tasmanian Stakes (1600m).
The Inevitable is unbeaten from three starts this preparation with his wins comprising the Goodwood Handicap (1100m), Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and the weightfor-age Conquering Stakes (1400m).
“I couldn’t be happier with his work this morning and I’m very much looking forward to the Tasmanian Stakes,” Pires said after the gallop.
Brunton’s gallant grey miler Sir Simon tuned up for his attempt to win the Devonport Cup with a solid workout, also with Pires aboard.
“The old grey horse is going extra well, and this gallop will have topped him off nicely.”
Siggy Carr’s star mare Queenborough Flyer had a week off after failing in a race in Launceston last month, but she galloped as though she is ready to resume racing, sooner than later.
Gary White’s unraced twoyear-old Bobble enjoyed her grass gallop with a mate, dashing up the home straight with Gemma Curtain in the saddle.
Bobble will make her debut next Friday in the $50,000 Alexandra Plate.
THE meeting at Elwick that was postponed because of
gale-force winds on Wednesday will be re-run on Friday but in a later timeslot with the first race scheduled to start at 2.45pm and the last of nine at 7.30pm.
All fields remain the same with scratchings reinstated, but it could see more NorthWest Coast entries eliminated as two eight-hour return trips in the space of three days might be considered too taxing for horses trained out of Spreyton and beyond.
However, those horses that
are chasing races on Devonport Cup Day (January 11) will most likely need the outing, so trainers might have no option but to make the return trip for what will be the first of four thoroughbred meetings in the space of 12 days.
The New Year’s Day meeting at Longford on Sunday has attracted record entries and the stage is set for a cracking meeting at Elwick next Friday boasting the Listed Tasmanian Guineas for three-year-olds, Listed Tasmanian Stakes,
Brighton Cup and Alexandra Plate for two-year-olds.
The Devonport Cup meeting on Wednesday week should also boast capacity fields in most races with all eyes on the new race on the calendar, the $109,000 Ladbrokes Carpet Charge over 1009m which should boast many of the state’s premier sprinters.
CRAIG NEWITT
will be back in Tasmania next week for the meeting at Elwick and has been booked to ride the Lindsey
Smith-trained Adelaide Ace in the Devonport Cup.
“I am looking forward to coming back home for a few meetings through the carnival and I’m excited about being on Adelaide Ace in the Devonport Cup because, on exposed form, he is going to be very hard to beat,” Newitt said from Melbourne on Thursday.
“I’ve got some nice rides at Elwick next week and am still working on Devonport Cup Day, but that’s as far ahead as I’m planning.”