Favourite bound for better
WELL-BRED three-year-old Rich Clan is likely to be aimed at some of the feature races later in the season following his impressive first-up win under lights in Launceston on Wednesday night.
Rich Clan was backed in to start the $2.60 favourite and after racing three-wide with no cover to the home turn the gelded son of Rich Enuff defied the tough run to power home to win by over a length from the fast-finishing Romary ($21), with race leader The Poodle a game third.
The Tegan Keys-trained gelding showed promise at two but due to immaturity when in the care of his breeder John Keys, the gelding was sent to the paddock for a lengthy spell.
Jockey David Pires said Rich Clan had shown great improvement this preparation and based on his work at Seven Mile Beach, connections were confident he would win. “I always felt like we were a winning chance and when I asked him for a bit extra, he dug deep and found,” Pires said.
SIGGY CARR notched the first winner of the night when she partnered former Victorian mare Iris West ($16) to a game win in the City of Launceston Maiden over 1400m.
Iris West jumped a halflength clear and ended up racing outside of the leader Gee Gee Ariel and they raced three lengths clear of the rest to the home turn.
When Carr called on her mare for an effort the fouryear-old quickly put a couple of lengths on her rivals and went on to score by over a length from Poet Warrior ($4.20), with Bynance ($7) closing late for third.
“We got this mare from Matthew Brown (Victorian trainer) who sent a few horses over and this mare was one that was taken over by us and I’m very grateful,” Carr said.
“When she jumped well, I was pleased because I thought the rails would be the place to be.
“And sitting outside the leader still allowed us to dictate the speed.
“The way she won I would expect her to win more races.”
Imogen Miller-trained Fighting Floyd delivered arguably his best effort to come from well back to win a strong class one handicap over 1200m.
Fighting Floyd went into the race on the back of consecutive fourths on the synthetic in Devonport but back to the turf and the scene of his maiden win, the gelding relished a fast speed and delivered at the business end of the race.
“He’s a funny horse because he probably needs things to go his way and tonight that’s how it panned out,” Miller said.
“When he can be left to settle where he is comfortable and doesn’t get rushed early he can really finish off his race.
“And that’s how it was tonight.”