Racing
Dad and Dave delivers Derby delight
Dad and Dave delivers the double.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Dad And Dave remained unbeaten in the Ladbrokes Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival, with victory in Friday's Listed $150,000 Magic Millions Tasmanian Derby (2200m).
In a repeat performance of his recent Launceston Guineas triumph, Dad and Dave ($3.30) was expertly partnered by jockey Eoin Walsh, who came from a position just worse than midfield to chime in on the home corner and finish over the top in the home straight.
Dad and Dave was too good for the well-supported Colizzi ($16-$8) by 0.75 lengths, with Helioson ($12) a further half length away in third. It was an all-Victorian trifecta in the race, with Wolf Junior ($12) the first local home in sixth place.
"The tempo was perfect, I was pretty confident going into the first bend that we were going to go good if they didn't steady them up, and my bloke was the best stayer there today," Eoin Walsh said.
The Maher stable targeted the Launceston Guineas-Tasmanian Derby double, with Dad and Dave remaining in the state at Seven Mile Beach in between the two runs.
"Everyone that's involved with him down here has done an absolutely brilliant job," said stable representative Nikki White.
Dad and Dave may follow the pathway of previous Tasmanian Derby winners, heading to other states such as South Australia, where the Derby is at Group 1 level.
Mixed results in the Magic Millions ClassicsAristopolos ($1.14) and Mazzini ($1.16) were sent out as prohibitive favourites in the respective $85,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic and $75,000 Magic Millions 3yo/4yo Classic, both over 1200m, but left with mixed results.
Aristopolos was in a different class to his opposition, romping to an 8.5-length victory. Now a perfect four from four, Aristopolos will head to the Listed Gold Sovereign in Launceston next start.
In the 3yo/4yo Classic, Mazzini never travelled like the winner and could only manage fourth behind Perspiration ($18).
Perspiration, part of a winning treble for trainer John Keys inside the first four races, is a previous Listed winner in Sydney when in the care of Ciaron Maher. Having his third run in the state, he showed the form that enticed connections to bring him to Tasmania, grabbing stablemate Swift Force ($4.20) in the concluding stages.
"He was very well prepared by the team today. I had the perfect transit trailing the favourite, and when I peeled off his back, I knew I was going to be hard to beat," said winning jockey, Jake Noonan.
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