Hot field to test our Beau
STAR Tasmanian three-yearold Bello Beau faces an acid test at Elwick on Friday when he tackles the $125,000 Ladbrokes Tasmanian Guineas over 1600m as he takes on a hot field that includes the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Botttrained Russian Roni who is a winner of his past two starts in Melbourne.
Bello Beau was Tasmania’s best two-year-old last season and this time in he is unbeaten from three starts for trainer Adam Trinder, the latest in the 3YO Trophy over 1400m in Launceston that was his first test beyond 1200m, but it was his most impressive performance.
Russian Roni comes with great form over the 1600m, having placed in a Listed race at Randwick and two starts back at Bendigo he led throughout to win by almost four lengths in a BM64 over 1600m.
At his latest outing at Sandown over 1400m he led throughout to win comfortably and prior to making the trip to Tasmania he won a jump out over 800m at Flemington by over 12 lengths.
“We made the decision to send him to Tasmania after he won so well at Sandown last state,” said co-trainer Bott from Sydney on Thursday.
“He is a horse that has progressed quite nicely this preparation and we expect this to be a good test for him because the Tasmanian horse (Bello Beau) looks quite talented.
“From all reports the horse has travelled well and has settled in well at Gary White’s stable.”
Sydney-based rider Winona Costin won on the gelding in a maiden at Newcastle last year and she has been called on to take the ride, which adds another dimension to the race.
Russian Roni arrived by sea on Wednesday and stayed in Devonport overnight before being transported to Brighton on Thursday morning.
Rowan Hamer’s promising three-year-old Royal and Tough has won his past three and promises to make an impact and if Cornelian Bay’s latest result in the 3YO Trophy is ignored when ninth, beaten nine lengths, he could make his presence felt with Victorian rider Liam Riordan in the saddle.
Craig Newitt returns to the state for the first time in over a year and he teams up with Bello Beau’s stablemate Sharma’s Last and he should be suited to the 1600m as will the other stablemate Jaguar Stone, to be ridden by in-form rider Troy Baker.
The Tasmanian Guineas is one of four feature races on the card with the others being the weight-for-age Tasmanian Stakes with only five starters, the Brighton Cup (2100m) that offers the winner ballotfree entry into the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup and the Alexandra Plate for two-year-olds that has attracted a field of six.
The $50,000 Alexandra Plate for two-year-olds is the second feature juvenile event for the season and Trinder will be hoping for a double with Thoros of Myr, who won two trials before starting a $1.45 favourite on debut in Launceston in the Alfa Bowl, is again likely to be the popular elect.
Thoros of Myr looked like winning on the home turn on debut when racing outside of the eventual winner Cairns, but he hung out all the way up the home straight for no apparent reason.