Racing
Tasmanian debut full of Hart
Hartman demolishes his rivals in first Tasmanian start.
Trainer Barry Campbell looks set to have some fun with his new stable addition, Hartman, following a dominant first-up win in Devonport on Sunday.
Heavily supported from an opening price of $5 to start the $2 favourite, jockey Anthony Darmanin took the 5yo gelding straight to the front, where he charged away to a 4.25-length victory from outsider Cool Conquest ($31).
Formerly in the care of champion trainer Chris Waller, Campbell's daughter Jess purchased Hartman for $16,000, and after one start, that looks like a bargain buy.
"For his first run in the state at an unsuitable distance, he was very impressive," Barry Campbell said.
Hartman's only prior win was over 1600m, but his winning time in the 1150m class 1 on Sunday was the fastest of the three 1150m races.
"He's a well-bred horse, and he won a $100,000 maiden when he won his race.
"He will improve on the run and seven furlongs to a mile, that's his best."
Pires secures a different doubleThree riders on the Devonport program finished with winning doubles, but one of them came with a twist.
Anthony Darmanin came from well back in the field aboard Final Approach ($7) to win a 1350m maiden as well as his victory aboard Hartman. Apprentice Sam Kennedy had two front-running winners aboard Purr Sefanee ($3.50) and Fast Thinker ($11), but David Pires was only first past the post for one of his two winners.
A comfortable victor aboard Cornelian Bay ($2.70) in the opening leg of the quaddie, Pires was upgraded to first aboard The Spirit Of Zero ($4.20) despite being second across the line in the 1350m BM76.
Cornelian Bay (D.Pires) wins a BM68 in Devonport.
The third horse, Asva ($3.20), successfully protested against the winner, Lovin' Bev ($2.60), citing interference in the home straight.
Under the rules of racing, an upheld protest results in "placing the horse after a horse that the horse interfered with (if the Stewards are of the opinion that the horse interfered with would have finished ahead of the other horse had the interference not occurred)."
With stewards deeming that Asva would have finished ahead of Lovin' Bev had interference not occurred, Asva was bumped up to second, Lovin' Bev demoted to third, and The Spirit of Zero awarded the race.
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