Youngsters ready to run
THE first two-year-old race of the season will be a feature on next Wednesday night’s card in Launceston and plenty of trial form is available to give punters a decent insight into each runner’s chances.
While acceptances won’t be taken until Monday, most of the 10 youngsters nominated are likely to start.
The Graeme McCullochtrained Entrapped (Fighting Sun-In Harmony) was impressive in winning her trial over 600ms on the Launceston track just over two weeks ago with Chris Graham aboard. The filly outgunned the Stuart Gandy-trained Gee Gee Goldenlass, which is a full sister to former Tasmanian Oaks and Devonport Cup winner Geegees Goldengirl, also prepared by Gandy.
Entrapped and Gee Gee Goldenlass were well clear of their rivals in the trial so they are likely to be well supported on Wednesday night.
The Longford trials this week also produced a couple of eye-catching runs including the win of Gee Gee Josie, a full sister to former top juvenile sprinter Gee Gee Double Dee which won four of her five starts as a two-year-old including the Elwick Stakes.
Third in that trial was the Scott Brunton-trained Reite Den Blitz (Night of ThunderSabkha) which was sold to the trainer for $38,000 at this year’s Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Brunton confirmed this will be his first runner in the opening 2YO race of a season since Highway Lad debuted with a win in the 2003 Alexandra Plate with Stephen Maskiell aboard.
Reite Den Blitz did a few things wrong in the trial, but she was belting home at the business end and should appreciate the extra ground on Wednesday night. She will be ridden by Georgie Catania.
Yassy Nishitani-trained Labby Rock (Kermadec-Belleza Medicea) also impressed in winning her trial over 600m in Launceston at the end of last month, scoring by four lengths without being pushed by rider Siggy Carr.
THE Elwick track upgrade is progressing as planned with the last patches of StrathAyr turf laid this week.
The first race meeting to be held on the new 28m-wide track will be on January 31 that boasts a likely eight-race card including the Tasmanian Derby. No date has been set for the trial before the first meeting. The Ladbrokes Hobart Cup meeting will be held nine days later, after which the track will be given three weeks to recover with threeweek breaks constant between meetings through to the winter months.