Racing
Preview – Launceston, Sunday 19 February UPDATED
After a successful stretch of the Summer Racing Festival in Hobart, the Tasmanian Turf Club have their turn in the spotlight starting with the Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Oaks meeting on Sunday.
The rail is in the true for the first of two meetings in the space of four days, with the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup next Wednesday.
The weather forecast looks ideal for both days on the weekend, with mid to high 20's.
R1 Sporties Hotel Cup Eve Calcutta Maiden, 1100m
ROHZHAE (1) has settled on the pace and gone close to winning a maiden at his past two starts in Hobart. He draws well and is likely to be well found again. MILLA'S READY (5) started a much bigger price but closed well to finish in front of the toppy on Derby Day. She doesn't have a lot of gate speed which is a concern over 1100m. CLARA KAREN (4) has mixed form badly in her eight-start career but has shown her best would likely be winning this. ALOTRHONN (2) arguably had his chance last time but stuck on for a place in a maiden that was no harder than this. GOOGLY (9) was safely held in much better company on debut, and this represents a significant class drop. NGAPALI BEACH (10) trialled well leading into her first start but was one of the first beaten after leading. Blinkers go on her, but she draws wide, as does GEE GEES DESERT (8) that comes via the same race. MOVE ON OVER (6) and TRUE SOLDIER (3) bring ordinary Victorian form but certainly don't find the strongest looking Tassie maiden.
Staking Strategy: I'd prefer this race was over a bit further bit Milla's Ready beat Rohzhae home last week. One is $8 and the other is $2.80 fav. 1 unit each-way on Milla's Ready (5)
R2 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup 22nd February Class 1 Hcp, 1200m
GALLANT WARRIORS (5) resumes having not raced since September where he beat Warica who since gone on to win multiple races. He did enough in a pair of January trials but an early decision will need to be made from barrier 13. FAKE MAGIC (1) has acquitted himself well in a pair of recent 3YO handicaps in Hobart and the winners there likely have a bit more upside than this field. PERKINS (14) was first home of a bunch that come via the class 1 won by Klatten where the form must be a query given the profile of that winner. CHOSEN EAGLE (7), ISAFJORDUR (8), SLIPSLOPSLAP (6) and DUTCH ACTION (4) all come via that race. DAWN EAGLE (10) was doing her best work late in Hobart and should be suited by the extra 100m of this race with the same said for UPSET (9) who was also first-up there. EGAO (11) was a T&D winner two starts ago where he had the same draw he has on Sunday. BOKEO (3) gets winkers for the first time after taking on the state's best 3YO's. Looks for a market lead on CHORIZAMA (2) who draws poorly for his first start with Rowan Hamer.
Staking Strategy: I think Dutch Action is a live roughie here. Flopped out the back on Tas debut after a huge market drift, he gets a senior rider on today. Hard not to have something on Gallant Warriors given the form out of his maiden win. 1 unit to win on Dutch Action (4) and Gallant Warriors (5)
R3 Winning Edge Presentations Class 3 Hcp, 1200m
RIGHT HOOK (1) was a winner two starts ago with Brendon McCoull in the saddle and last start was only beaten less than three lengths despite not beating a runner home. He might have a battle for the early lead with stablemate SPIRITED TOFF (8), ALPINE AVIATOR (4) and UNDER HIS EYE (7) generally on-pacers while SUNSHINE MOSHE (6) ran good time when leading throughout at Longford last week. POWER MAGNUM (3) hasn't been at his best in two runs back but was caught wide last time. OUTBOUND (5) has a tendency to be slow out as was evident last Sunday so the inside gate may not be ideal for him. ZAGAME (9) has only won two from 41 but both of those wins have been first-up and she is 270 days between runs here. HAMOGANY (2) has had a pair of trials in readiness for his return and has some hope in an open race.
Staking Strategy: I mapped this race with a stack of speed and I'm looking for one that can get over the top. Maybe it's Zagame who has always been a good fresh horse. 1 unit each-way on Zagame (9)
R4 Chilli Fm Live Broadcast Oaks Day Bm62 Hcp, 1600m
THREE'S A CROWD (5) hasn't missed the quinella in her last six starts, a span that also includes two wins. Last start she was victorious in a brutally run 2100m. Back in trip deep into the campaign is a concern but she's racing in great form. INCRIMINATE (4) led at a genuine clip last time and was only grabbed late by a stablemate. Brendon McCoull has the sit there which leaves SILVER PERSUASION (7) without a rider named at the time of writing. She was a big run in defeat at the last Launceston meeting after settling at the tail of the field. ZEVA ROYALE (3) steps out to the mile for the first time, after a pair of good 1400m runs here. She finished just ahead of O'REILLY MCLUKE (1) last time in a slowly run race that saw a bunched finish. KAY OH ELL (2) hasn't raced since July last year when victorious in a maiden/class 1 at Devonport. Not sure where Daniel Ganderton slots in from barrier 10 but the mare has had a pair of 1400m trials to have her ready for a resumption over 1600m.
Staking Strategy: Working away from the obvious, best of the day for me is Incriminate. I think Brendon finds the top and from there they hopefully won't be catching him. 4 units to win on Incriminate (4)
R5 Magic Millions 2yo Classic, 1200m
BELUGA EXPRESS (2) placed at Listed level down the Flemington straight on debut before being narrowly on the right side of a four-horse race on the Ballarat synthetic. Like the other interstate runner SASSY BOOM (9) you respect the placement, and the colt has Brendon McCoull to offset a wide alley. Sassy Boom flopped in terrible conditions at her only start and the $5 SP is probably a bigger take out than the performance. She was pushed out in a recent trial. CAIRNS (6) has been well found at all of her career starts, the latest a close third in the Gold Sovereign. She had to spear across the field from gate 12 last time but has gate 2 here. BATCHY BULLET (8), ENCOUNTER SPHERE (1) and JOHNNIE PINCH (3) are other locals coming via the Listed feature, punters forced to weigh up whether that race experience is offset by the length of preparation. LIBERTY RAE (7) won one of the first 2YO races of the season back in November. She trialled in stylish fashion at Longford in good time for that session.
Staking Strategy: I'm far from convinced with the strength of the local 2YO form this season. Blonde Venture had one career start for a fifth when she dead heated in this race last year. 1 unit to win on both Beluga Express (2) and Sassy Boom (9)
R6 Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Oaks, 2100m
SOUL CHOICE (1) made light work of the Strutt Stakes last Friday, defeating just an opposition of three that included JUST A NEEDS (2) and CLOUDY NIGHTS (4). Connections immediately flagged the Oaks as the next target and given she started $1.24, it's hard to see the others turning the tables. Annabel Neasham brings down BADDA BOOM BABY (6) after having Spirit Ridge run third in Sunday's Hobart Cup. She's settled back in recent runs before hitting the line strongly. Launceston can be a particularly tough track to win with that pattern. SIRIUS PRINCESS (8) went around in the Group 1 VRC Oaks back in November so will clearly find this much easier. She was a beaten favourite last time at Kyneton, reportedly not handling the heavy 8 surface. AESCULUS (7) and HOOPS (5) have been taking on the older horses in SA and Vic respectively. That "second tier" form for lack of a better term, hasn't quite been up to Dunkel and Soul Choice so far this Tassie summer.
Staking Strategy: Banking on the Waterhose/Bott domination of the carnival continuing with Soul Choice. Give me the horse bowling on speed and if she hasn't gone backwards she should be winning again. 8 units to win on Soul Choice (1)
R7 Magic Millions 3yo/4yo Classic, 1400m
TURK WARRIOR (1) won on this day as part of his dominant 2YO season. He enjoyed a nice run in the Ladbrokes Stakes to keep a good preparation ticking over, the start prior he won the Carpet Charge defeating EMILY (5). The mare steps up to 1400m for the first-time after a Bow Mistress run where she had little luck slotting in from a wide barrier. JAGUAR STONE (7) is also a 2YO winner on this day, dead-heating for the prize 12 months ago. Her campaign perhaps hasn't reached the heights it promised leading in, but she hasn't missed the top three in five previous T&D starts. THESECONDATPORTSEA (8) is one of the Danny O'Brien team he brings across for the day. She was disappointing last start at Pakenham in a race that also included Hoops who goes around in the Oaks. Stablemates ALPINE BLAST (2), WARICA (3) and ALPINE AFFAIR (4) all have similar career records and will need to improve on their most recent runs to be winning this.
Staking Strategy: Refer previous comments about Soul Choice with Turk Warrior. Since the Newmarket this looks like a perfectly mapped out preparation for him. 8 units to to win on Turk Warrior (1)
R8 Kevin Sharkie Bm68 Hcp, 1400m
GEE GEE CAN WIN (4) chases a hat-trick in career best form. His last win was at the T&D received a push with Chinchero running well on Derby Day. Interestingly McCoull jumps off to ride WARDELL (5) who has beaten one horse home in his last four total starts. NAMABAALE (2) is another in a purple patch of form, winning narrowly last start over ZEWINNA (9) who had a bit of trouble getting a run when needed. The runner-up meets the winner 1.5kg better and the form can receive a nudge earlier in the day. ETHICAL DILEMMA (1) wasn't far away in this class last start while THE MASTER SPEED (7) was heavily supported in easier company but endured a tough run near the speed. BLUSHED (10) put in her best performance for a while last time, closing hard to suggest the extra distance will suit. RING OF HONOUR (6) tracked the speed at a big price last time and was almost another long-priced winner on a day of upsets. He steps up to 1400m at his fourth run for the campaign.
Staking Strategy: Box ticker is Zewinna, she probably should've won her past two starts and has the gun alley here. Gee Gee Can Win the saver who looks over the odds. 3 units to win on Zewinna (9) and 1 unit to win on Gee Gee Can Win (4)
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