Star aces return
DEROCHE, one of Tasmania’s star mares, returned to racing with a game win in an open handicap over 1150m on her home track in Devonport on Sunday.
Deroche surprisingly drifted in the betting from an unbackable quote ($1.18) when markets opened on race day to start the $1.40 favourite in a three-horse field after half the final acceptors were scratched.
The punters were close to the mark, with Deroche fading over the concluding stages to score by only a neck from Our Little Ted, which was heavily backed in to start the solid second-elect at $3.40, firming from his opening quote of $9.50 (when there were six acceptors).
Raghu also had some specking, firming from $9 to start the $8 outsider.
Last season’s top apprentice, Codi Jordan, fired Deroche out of the gates to lead by four lengths after travelling 300m, but she reined the Barry Campbell-trained mare in and backed off the speed heading to the home turn.
Deroche kicked clear at the top of the straight, but the other pair started to close over the final 100m with the mare hanging on to win narrowly. It was Deroche’s first start since finishing second to Still a Star in last season’s Vamos Stakes (1400m) in late February.
Campbell said before his mare had contested last Sunday’s race that he was looking at a benchmark 90 at Sandown over 1000m in three weeks that might suit Deroche second-up.
Our Little Ted proved he could be up to some of the better sprint races this season.
“I was very happy with Ted’s effort today and we were all getting a bit excited close to home, but the mare was just too good on the day,” trainer Cameron Thompson said.
“We will have a look at the Goodwood Handicap (1100m in Hobart) and go from there, but he has definitely proved he can match it with some of the good ones.
“He will have two weeks off in the paddock and we’ll bring him back for a first-up tilt at the Goodwood in mid-November.”
Thompson ended the meeting with one winner courtesy of his lightly raced five-year-old Needarein delivering a career-best effort to end his preparation.
Needarein settled midfield in the benchmark 60 handicap over 1880m and, when rider Siggy Carr called on the gelded son of Needs Further to improve 400m out, he quickly collared the leaders on the home turn and went on to defeat favourite Submit Another by a half-length.
“I was really pleased with Needarein and Siggy (Carr) was also impressed,” Thompson said. “Siggy said he has finally started to settle in his races and was very responsive when she asked him for an effort.”
“I’ll tip him out for a spell and hopefully he can continue to improve next prep.”
Still a Star and Mystic Journey enjoyed a grass gallop together at Mowbray on Monday in preparation for their tilt at the Let’s Elope Stakes over 1400m at Flemington on Saturday.
Both mares are resuming from spells, with Mystic Journey coming back from knee surgery to remove bone chips, while Still a Star comes off a stint in the paddock following a short campaign in Melbourne in March-April.