Fairly standard meeting, no standout performances but a couple of decent form reference races
Run of the Night
Resurgence, simply a tough and honest horse who does it at both ends of a race. Have to put my hand up and say I under rated him (which is strange considering he did me some huge favours last campaign). Worked in lead time of 34.6 to find the front then dug deep in straight to cling on and win. I always thought his lack of high speed would hurt in the better class races and it still may but with his gatespeed and toughness he will be competitive in most races he contests
Drive of the Night
Joshua Duggan (Boozy Rouge), it looked a simple sit and steer job but I like to give this award to a driver who makes a decision in a race that helps them win. Hear way too many drivers get credit for great drives when they simply finish up in the right spot. Josh identified that he had to stay in front of one horse early (Saab Quality) so when the horse 3 wide in front of him pulled back into his lap he decided to pull 4 wide around the first turn and thus stayed in front of his main danger as the first one round would have found the front and the result may have been different if he didn't make that move
Also have to make mention of his father's (Ricky Duggan) drives on the night which were perfect on a number of occasions, every horse he drove received every hope. 5 horses in particular (Bide Your Time, Scarlett Blaze, Denvers Boy, Guerrero and Albert Jones) had every possible hope to win given where he positioned them in the run and it was simply a great display from a great driver
Slaughter of the Night
Glad to say that most drives weren't too bad, forced to pick on anything I would nominate Ken Austin (Gunbower Jack) and Brendan Gebel (Mountain Momma) who were both driving $100 pops and preferred to stay in the running line out the back instead of opting for the spot 3 pegs which was there for the taking. It is a great spot to be when an even money favourite is leading and you are on a bolter. As it was, the driver who took the initiative (Roger Brown, Cancellara) finished up running 4th whereas both Mountain Momma and Gunbower Jack were out wide gasping for breath at the 400. These 2 are unlucky to get nominated as see this thing happen every week in Tassie with most drivers having a serious aversion to being on the fence - it is still the shortest way home
Blackbookers (no standouts)
Crash Cart, hoof right on the till
Most Happy Jasper, encouraging at first run for new stable, might bob up at big odds shortly
Scarlett Blaze, every hope last night but beaten by a good one and cleared out from 3rd horse
Noelsgirl, finally put it together and certainly has ability
Smokin Mustard, did a bit of work and kept coming
Dusty Kalena, certainly going to win races when its manners improve
Touchwood Bucksta, really going well and chance in anything he contests
From the Sectional Times
Nothing outstanding but in the 3YO race, there were 3 horses who all went very well at big odds. The horses were Noelsgirl, Smokin Mustard and Dusty Kalena who were all wide in the last lap and they ran home in 28.9 and all 3 found the line strongly and therefore are worth following. Also thought Touchwood Bucksta went sensational later in the night coming from miles off the leader out wide to run 2nd in a 58.8 half
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Race 1 - C1, 2090m, mile rate 2.01.0, lead time 35.6 (bit quicker than average), first half 62.6, last half 59.0
Good class C1 event, speed was even throughout and may be a decent form reference going forward
Biggernbettermax (1st), did more work than anything and still too tough. Is more tradesmanlike than brilliant at the moment but will continue to pregress through the classes provided he draws well
Harbhajan (2nd), pulled very hard once again which told in the straight, that trait has probably cost him winning his past 2 starts now which is a concern. Would imagine they would be very quiet on him early next run
Crash Cart (3rd), very good run again, bit stiff to run into a couple going through the grades but he simply must win a race soon the way he is going. Beat the 4th horse clearly
Most Happy Jasper (5th), cheeky run at odds at first run for new stable, if he draws to lead in a mile race soon might be worth a bet
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Race 2 - C1, 2090m, mile rate 2.06.0, lead time 37.3 (very slow), first half 66.8, last half 58.5
Farcically run race and when the best horses in the race raced handy it was over a long way from home. Totally forget the runs of anything back in the field
Boozy Rouge (1st), well deserved win, got soft lead then walked and sprinted home in 27.9
Saab Quality (2nd), typical honest run, think he has to lead to win at open age level and still out of the draw for another run
Bide Your Time (3rd), very encouraging run at first start for 18 months, had a good run in transit and kept coming in the quick closing fraction
Ultimate Heir (4th), well driven to lead, hand up to right horse and maximise its finishing position
Monicas Notch (5th), not suited by tempo but was working home okay late
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Race 3 - C0, 2090m, mile rate 2.01.4, lead time 35.0 (fast), first half 61.2, last half 61.4
Strangely run race, always question marks around the form when the last half is slower than the first half. Did think the first 2 over line were very impressive though
Iden Justasmyrk (1st), had race run to suit but was a mile off the leader at the 1200 mark so his sectionals would actually be okay. He continues to improve and should get through a couple more classes pretty quickly
Scarlett Blaze (2nd), good run for the 2nd week in a row. Finished a long way in front of the 3rd horse so his hoof is right on the till
Thirtysixtoes (3rd), well driven and plugged home
Melman (4th), honest run, neither overly good or overly bad
Artifice (6th), did way too much work early, was a shocking price though (for 2nd week in a row). She is way better suited over mile trips, against her own sex and driven with cover so was 0/3 on that front yet was sent out as fav????
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Race 4 - 3YO, 2090m, mile rate 2.03.2, lead time 37.3 (very slow), first half 64.0, last half 58.7
Best horse won but merit in the runs of the first 5 over the line
Bettor Draw (1st), simply too classy, also was put into the race this week unlike when first up and sat last the entire race in a slowly run race
Odins Dragon Rider (2nd), had every possible hope given the sectionals but was beaten by a fair horse.
Noelsgirl (3rd), did it right for the first time and was a very good run
Smokin Mustard (4th), went a lot better than past couple being 3 wide without cover from bell in 58.7 half and never shirked the task
Dusty Kalena (5th), continues to have issues with manners but is going to be a handy horse when this racing caper clicks
Iden Noshot (6th), very disappointing, had perfect run in transit and didn't find much late
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Race 5 - C3-C4, 2090m, mile rate 2.00.7, lead time 34.6 (very fast), first half 62.3, last half 59.8
Went very quickly early in this and nothing ran home. Very fence dominated race and first 4 cleared out
Resurgence (1st), good honest horse who can do it at both ends of a race. Has now won 4 on end and this is the quickest he has run home (59.8) so how much further he can go is debatable but won't be far away in anything
Bayfield High (2nd), thought he was home halfway up the straight and had him going for plenty so wasn't happy!! Under rated horse who always runs well when draws okay
Mickey Delahey (3rd), looked to be travelling okay when run came but just plodded home
King Albert (4th), very average, had perfect run in transit and didn't give much despite the slow closing fractions
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Race 6 - C1, 2090m, mile rate 2.02.1, lead time 36.3 (average), first half 62.3, last half 60.0
First 3 over line clearly superior to the rest
Denvers Boy (1st), enjoyed a good run in transit and too strong in straight
Jet Black Flyer (2nd), another good run, probably entitled to win but seems to race best when held up for a late crack at them
Cullens Count (3rd), enjoyed a soft run and battled on well as usual
Chanceabet (8th), disgraceful. Gone at bell and beaten a mile
Doves Patch (9th), galloped again, horse is a fair dinkum fruit loop
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Race 7 - C2, 2090m, mile rate 2.03.7, lead time 37.0 (slow), first half 64.8, last half 58.8
Fav led, set a slow speed and bolted in. 2nd horse went okay and resy very bunched
Still Royal (1st), showed surprising speed to lead and was always going to win
Touchwood Bucksta (2nd), probably went as well as the winner coming wide from last and nothing took him into the race
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Race 8 - Claimer, 2090m, mile rate 2.02.4, lead time 37.4 (very slow), first half 62.8, last half 58.8
First 3 a mile better than the others
Ulos (1st), surprisingly short odds and had to pull out all stops to win. Good win though as both placegetters are going okay and had to give both a start
Albert Jones (2nd), enjoyed a perfect run and just run down. Continues to race well
Jefferson (3rd), clearly his best Tasmanian run, getting close to a win
