Racing
Unbeaten colt strikes Gold
Aristopolos capped off an unbeaten summer with an effortless victory in the $150,000 Listed The Agency, Katrina Garwood & Ian McCallum Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m) in Launceston on Friday night.
The colt by St Mark's Basilica x Flying Krupt went around at odds normally reserved for champions, backed in from $1.40 to $1.05, and gave punters very little cause for concern.
Jockey Erica Byrne Burke took Aristopolos straight to the front, with Victorian first starter Woosh ($26) to her outside. Woosh was a beaten force before the home turn, and although she battled into third, it was left to Momentslikethese ($8) to fill the quinella spot, albeit two lengths off the winner.
Aristopolos has won all five two-year-old races this season, taking his earnings past $300,000.
"Every time he's jumped out of the barriers or trialled up with older horses, he's gotten better and better," trainer John Blacker said.
With connections seemingly resisting the temptation to sell the colt despite a seven-figure price tag, it seems Blacker will also keep the bar low for Aristopolos in the short term.
"Our plan is now to tip him out for a break, and then we'd love to come back and win the Alfa Bowl with him.
"I don't want him going to the paddock there for too long and getting too heavy as a colt; we want to keep him as a colt as long as we can."
The $45,000 Alfa Bowl will be run over 1200m in Launceston on 17 April.
Victorian domination continues in the OaksThe Phillip Stokes-trained Kazaru received a brilliant ride from Group 1 winning jockey Luke Currie to take out the $150,000 Listed Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Oaks (2100m).
Kazaru was well-supported by punters, backed from $5.50 to $3.80 on race day after an early double-figure price was bet. She came with a well-timed run from back in the field to grab Zuleika ($14), with Miss Aggravation ($26) in third. The first four horses across the line in the Oaks were all trained outside Tasmania.
"I hoped we might travel closer, so she didn't have too much to do, but it was a strong tempo early, and I knew she'd be strong late," said Luke Currie, who had a double on the program after a win aboard Rushonova ($2.25 fav) in the opening race.
Tasmania's Oaks charge was headed by Crack The Shutters ($3.60 fav) and Daytona Diva ($3.90). After that pair led the field out of the home straight, early moves shuffled them back into the pack, and neither horse could make an impact in the final stages.
Kazaru will now head to South Australia for their Carnival, which follows on from the Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival.
It was a good night for the visitors, with Ballarat trainer Patrick Kearney landing a double with Kiss My Rock ($3 fav) and Cripps ($2.60), a repeat of their winning performances in Hobart. They were partnered by interstate hoops John Allen and Alana Kelly.
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