Stormont stepping up

Gun gelding tackles class three meeting

THE connections of promising galloper Stormont have opted to tackle a class three event over 1600 metres at the end of the month instead of progressing to a benchmark 66 over a shorter trip on Friday night.

Stormont could not have been more impressive in winning a class one handicap (1400m) in Launceston two weeks ago at his first start in five months.

It was trainer Rod Seymour’s intention to send the gelding around over the same journey second-up but that changed after the trainer had a discussion with jockey Brendon McCoull who partnered Stormont to his last-start victory.

“We were keen to give the horse another run over 1400m but the way he has trained on since that run swayed us to step him straight to 1600m, which we hope will be to his liking,” Seymour said.

“The horse has blossomed since his first-up run, so we are keen to see what he can do next start.”

McCoull was full of praise for Stormont after his first-up win, suggesting the gelded son of Red Element could measure up to some feature races. TRAINER Glenn Stevenson confirmed yesterday that his stable star I’m Wesley will have his next start in the Newmarket Handicap in Launceston at the end of next month.

I’m Wesley, winner if the past two Newmarket Handicaps, will be attempting to become the first to win the race three times.

Six horses have won backto-back Newmarkets — Hellova Street (2014-15), Private Enterprise (1970-71), Majestic Master (1967-68), Royal Barb (1935-36), Silver Lake (1916-17) and Hatteras (1904-05).

The George Blackertrained Royal Rambo also won two Newmarket Handicaps, but they were two years apart (1998 and 2000).

Stevenson said I’m Wesley has been working well and will give a sight in this year’s premier sprint over 1200m.

“I can’t fault I’m Wesley’s work, so I expect him to be as competitive as he was the last two years,” Stevenson said.

“I was tempted to run him in the Goodwood as a lead-up but in the end, I felt he would be better off going in fresh.”

2016 Newmarket winner Tshahitsi is also expected to line up in this year’s event along with the Scott Bruntontrained Hellova Street that will go into the race first-up from a four-month spell and he too is aiming to be the first to register three wins in the time-honoured event.

TALENTED mare Our Declaration is expected to make her return to racing in a benchmark 66 handicap in Launceston on Friday night.

The Stuart Gandy-trained mare hasn’t started since finishing fourth to Westerly Haze in Devonport in April.

“I am very pleased with how Our Declaration has performed in two trials and based on her form before she went for a spell, I am expecting her to be very competitive on Friday night,” Gandy said.

He also has Gee Gees Queenie engaged in a benchmark 84 handicap over 1200 metres and

Gee Gee Queen Bee is entered in the benchmark 60 handicap over 1100 metres. “Gee Gee Queen Bee comes off a good second first-up in Launceston two weeks ago and she is in the right race to win and while Gee Gees Queenie is racing out of her class, she is going well enough on the training track to make her presence felt.”