I will say though that it is absurd to have 12 runners in mile races, it is at least 1 runner too many and probably 2 runners to be honest. Just means that a few horses don't get the opportunity to win even on a great track like Launceston.
Race 1
1 ZURBARAN $2.0 having first start for the Hillier stable and has always shown above average ability, has the speed to utilise the draw and clearly the one to beat if anywhere near right and he did win a recent trial (2.01.1, 58.7, 2170m) and the 3rd horse in that trial (Prince Calaf) won by 30 metres at Devonport Wednesday and the 4th horse (Look Look) ran a close 2nd so gives a decent pointer as to where he is at
2 ROSARIUM $21 hasn't enjoyed the best of luck in both career runs to date and from this better draw may surprise
3 ATTA JET $17 fair run when resuming, lacks a little bit of speed but always runs an honest race and might sneak into the placings
4 TIME TO PRAY $51 had every hope to break maiden status last week and just battled when the heat came on, unplaced in all 16 career starts so prefer others
5 ARTIFICE $8 dead set money muncher (look at starting price at past 6 starts) so despite this being her easiest assignment for a while you just can't back her as will be under the odds again. Must include if taking exotics though
6 MAGNIFICANTCAMELOT $11 another good run last time, draw is awkward but will be in the finish with even luck
7 MODERN SOCIETY $4.5 ex Victorian having first start for the Hodges camp and simply have to respect that as the stable is on fire currently. Has also trialled well recently so is a huge watch
8 DAINTY SUNRISE $101 race form is ordinary to say the least and whilst she hasn't been too bad at the trials this draw just makes her task a forlorn one
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9 WATTLE CREEK $34 another who has more ability than form suggests and if gets a soft run here may sneak into the exotics
10 HERNANDES $101 yet to be placed and didn't do much when resuming
11 HESADIEBERKNIGHT $17 going a lot better than form suggests and whilst the draw makes it tough is a must for exotics
12 SHEZA WESTERN ROSE $34 has some ability but manners have let her down but looks too hard from this draw over the mile
Ratings 1/7/5/6/11/3/2/9
Race 2
1 BARKERS RUN $17 much improved run last time and although this is a tougher race is still an EW chance
3 ANOPTOMIST $9 well deserved win last time, is a tad limited ability wise but never runs a bad race and if found the pegs here would take some running down
4 LITTLE ELF $17 disappointed at past 3 runs after promising a bit at first few runs in the state, another who lacks speed but may improve back to a front line draw
5 MATAI NIGEL NZ $17 good run when resuming when did his share of work and boxed on well, going to have to work from this gate also so place best again
6 STEELINGTON NZ $51 in all Tasmanian runs without doing anything to write home about and this looks too tough from this gate been honest
7 LISKENS GIFT $17 good run last week when did plenty of work and refused to lie down, yet another who keeps trying and place only from out here
8 EMPTY ENVELOPE $2.0 won in the manner of a very good horse first up and its worth noting the horse who had the cold sit on him and couldn't get near him (El Jays Modeena) came out and won a good mares race last week. Bit of speed under him so draw is tricky but still looks too good for them
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9 THE JOUSTER $7 going very well but draw is horrendous for his chances, will need a ton of luck to win and whilst he might get it he is more than likely to get buried 3 to 4 back on the pegs so doubt he can win but is a must include for exotics
10 RUBYS LIFE $26 won a weak race here 2 starts back then wasn't too bad last time, need plenty of luck to figure but can't rule out completely
11 PRETTYBOYTOBY $34 went a bit better last week but still not going as well as he can and whilst he can always surprise I want to see him show a glimmer of his old form first
12 BRO TOWN NZ $34 not much went right last week and whilst he is up to most of these on the score of ability he really needs to draw well to figure
Ratings 8/3/9/1/4/5/7/2
Race 3
1 OUR SIR LEW $11 one paced type resuming and be some hope if held the front but best form has always been when driven by Nat Emery so prefer place only
2 RUSHIN COURAGE NZ $2.2 been ODM in both Tasmanian starts so far and runs have been very good. Is now back in the draw and I can recall him racing in Victoria and did have very good gatespeed so if he led here over the mile and ran up to previous runs he would almost be a good thing. Pretty keen on him actually
3 EARL HICKEY $34 not going well enough
4 COMMANDER DATA $51 has a bit of gatespeed but best form is always been around Devonport so look for him there
5 TOUCHWOOD BUCKSTA $13 honest type who probably isn't going as well as he was a couple of months back but still in the mix for exotics
6 THE BULLIONAIRE $34 disappointing last week but was used out of the gate and has always raced best when driven cold so may improve but would want to
7 TOUCHWOOD TEEKSTA $26 runs his best races when drawn to lead so place at best from out here
8 IN CRUISE MODE $34 ran a number of cheeky races in good fields last time in and whilst the draw makes it nigh on impossible is worth keeping an eye on as a future form reference
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9 DENVERS BOY $5 model of consistency who hasn't finished worse than 4th at past 9 runs but draws the worst possible gate for him here. Still have to respect despite the draw as is going well enough to win should the breaks go his way
10 MURPHYS ROCKET $11 form has tapered off at past couple and tends to race best in front but follows out the likely leader here so should get a good run through and be competitive from there
11 GLORY IS ILLUSIVE $26 best run in ages last time but going to need plenty of luck from here
12 MI MADEMOISELLE $26 making too many mistakes of late and would need to be on best behaviour to even rate a place chance from this draw
Ratings 2/9/10/1/5
Race 4
1 KING OF BLING $6 loves the mile trip and is certain to lead early then probably hand over to a horse of its choosing that will take him to the straight. If he gets the right split in the straight may surprise
2 OPERATIVE DELIGHT $34 now a 10yo and is resuming from a 2 year spell so prefer to watch
3 MURILLO BROMAC NZ $13 honest type who keeps coming, need everything to work out perfectly to win but won't be far away
4 THE MUSICS OVER NZ $3.2 disappointed last time but on previous form would still be the one to beat so giving one more chance
5 DODGERMEMATE $11 promised a bit last campaign but whilst this is easier than other runs this time in he still hasn't done a lot so place only until he shows a glimpse of his old form
6 BUBBAS A FAKE $3.2 enormous win last time but is a frustrating horse as can do plenty wrong. If she turns up on her "A" game will go mighty close again
7 GRACIE HART $8 opportunist mare who will be driven for one run at them and if the leaders overdo things may be the fresh horse late
8 DOWN TOWN BABE $17 resuming and has plenty of ability when right but this is tough first up from out here
Ratings 4/6/1/7/5/3/8
Race 5
1 MAGGIE KENNEDY $3.0 last season's champion Tasmanian filly resuming, tough race but from this gate over this trip will be right in the finish
2 OUR ZELLWEGER NZ $6 extremely disappointing last campaign when did nothing but has trialled okay this time in so from this draw must be respected
3 SANREOS $15 as honest as the day is long but reckon she will find a couple of these too nippy late
4 BIGGERNBETTERMAX $4.5 another who lacks really high speed but is yet to miss a place in 13 starts so again won't be far away
5 REMEMBERPREECE $8 well driven to win last time, this is harder and draw is some concern also so prefer as a place chance
6 BAYFIELD HIGH $51 going okay but needs it weaker
7 HELL FIRE BOY $11 interesting runner who resumes and been pretty good at the trials, can get it wrong at times and the draw makes things tough but certainly has ability
8 WINGSOFANEAGLE $21 going well enough to be competitive but from this draw will need plenty of things to go his way, one for exotics
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9 ROCK AND RUN ($5,000) $51 been ordinary at both runs since resuming and prefer others despite drawing to get a pretty good trip
10 SECRET RENDEZVOUS ($5,000) $11 enigmatic beast who mixes his form, super win last time and from this good trailing draw may be the blowout horse again if the favs overdo things up front
Ratings 1/4/2/5/10/7/3
Race 6
2 NIGHT IN VEGAS $2.2 gets her best draw this time in and has been close up recently, really gets her chance from this gate
3 EL JAYS MODEENA $3.5 good win last week and this is no tougher so is a great chance again
4 CHASSYS BEST $51 simply not up to this class
5 SHIRNELL $51 another who is outclassed
6 WEEMALANEWS $34 not much luck last time but still too tough from out here
7 BLACKTIE AFFAIR $5 right up to these on ability and despite the tricky draw will be a major chance with even luck
8 THABELA BRIOSO $9 really going well at the moment, may have to work hard from the gate but still going too well to dismiss
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9 CYCLONE DYNASTY $34 draws to get a soft run but struggling for best form
Ratings 2/3/7/8
Race 7
1 DANCE OF THE DEITY $15 draws to trail the speed so a must for exotics as he simply loves that type of trip
2 MAJESTIC EMPEROR $9 much improved run last time and might be the leader here and if gets it soft over the mile trip may surprise
3 ALLA BREVE scr
4 KINGS A COACH $17 did trial okay recently but prefer place only
5 CASTASPELL $34 this looks too tough
6 REDSIDE SHREK $13 galloped when resuming and run was actually very good, has tons of ability at best so keep safe
7 ULOS $21 going okay but the draw really hampers his hopes
8 BABYITSU $5 resuming and also has a bad gate but did trial very well last week and he might be able to work to the death without expending too much juice here as not a very quick front line
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9 JUST MAKE OUR DEIGH NZ $34 this is tougher than past few but might run into exotics with a cheap pegs run
10 ANGUS MCGREGOR $34 starting to show glimpses of his best but still hard to be enthused from the 2nd row draw
11 OUR SIR JECKYL $5 another resuming and was probably the best horse in Tassie at the end of last campaign, from this draw will need the right run but is simply too classy to leave out
12 COSMIC UNDER FIRE NZ $3.5 been the measuring stick at this level all season, horror draw for a mile race but given even luck in running will take a stack of holding out
Ratings 12/8/11/2/6/1/3
Race 8
1 HAMISH SANZ $7 big strong colt who lacks high speed so draw is a big issue here as if gets buried on the pegs will take an age to wind up
2 PUT MBACK $9 probably not as talented as some others in the race but is likely to be first to the pegs and is going to get the best run so is a must for exotics
3 KARALTA WIZARD $3.8 typical honest run when resuming and gets Gareth here, you would think that he would derive benefit from the first up run and will go very close here as is super tough
4 PACKEDTOTHERAFTERS $3.8 very good run on debut when stiff not to win, this race is much tougher but he has trialled well since so is a huge watch
5 JUST DANCE BABY $7 still a maiden but has yet to run a bad race, very even field this and given even luck from the draw will be right in the finish again
6 CODIE KARALTA $4.5 half sister to Villagem who oozes talent but still does plenty wrong, by the end of the season she might develop into a very good horse but still plenty of chinks to iron out. Too good to dismiss though as would probably win with a foolproof display but has a few issues currently. Is a huge watch first up
Ratings 3/4/6/5/1/2
