Duo’s smart Cup warm-ups
LAST season’s Launceston Cup placegetters White Hawk and Sh’bourne Renegade look set to shape up for another tilt at the state’s major cups following impressive trials at Longford on Tuesday.
For the past two seasons White Hawk has been a Hobart and Launceston cups contender but the way he presented in yesterday’s trial over 1400m, this could be his season to shine.
The gelding’s trainer Angela Brakey was rapt with the eightyear-old’s trial performance. “I was hoping he would still be keen to race and from what he did today I am convinced he will be up to it,” Brakey said. “He is a funny horse that has a truck load of antics ... but he’s worth the trouble.
“You never know what you are going to get but he was competitive in the Launceston Cup last season and after this trial I am already convinced he is on track to measure up to the same program.”
White Hawk missed by a few centimetres in the Launceston Cup after which connections threw him in at the deep end with a trip to South Australia for the Adelaide Cup. But the trip took its toll and he finished closer to last in the field of 14.
Brakey is yet to map out a program for White Hawk, but both major cups are locked in.
The Bill Ryan-trained Sh’bourne Renegade, who finished second to Glass Warrior in last season’s Launceston Cup, also trialed well on Wednesday finishing third in his trial won by Sparkling One. Ryan was pleased with the gelding’s effort and confirmed he would again be aimed at the major cups.
“He showed a lot more zip than I expected in his trial, so it looks like it is onwards and upwards for another cups campaign,” Ryan said.
APPRENTICE Jemma Curtain has been granted her licence to ride in races and kicks off aboard Gee Gee
Plane for her master Stuart Gandy in a benchmark 62 handicap over 1100m at Elwick on Saturday.
Tasmania’s list of apprentices continues to grow, with Curtain joining recent graduates Taylor Johnstone and Tayah Stalker who each have ridden a winner from only a few rides.
Stalker rode a winner at her first attempt aboard Trojan Storm in Devonport last month. And Johnson snared her first winner last Wednesday night in Launceston aboard Dark Wanderer at only her fifth race ride.
Another apprentice waiting in the wings is Chelsea Baker who looks a readymade rider.
She rode at the Longford trials on Tuesday. And it was great to see Chelsea battling it out with her mother Kylie Baker who rode against her in three of the 12 trials.
Chelsea has a way to go before she is granted a licence but once qualified, she will be an asset to the riding ranks.