Hobart, Sunday 11 January
Race 1
I GOTTA GO (4) lost the race in the stewards room first up when locking wheels with Ozzie Pearl, who has since went well in a tougher race. He is very quick out of the gate when asked, and will take beating if he was able to find the front. DARE YOU TO MOVE (2) has shown gate speed in a couple okay trials and is first up for the new stable, he looks the one that could possibly hold the above out early. SPORTS WATCHER (9) was a good 4th first up from a spell, running good time over the middle trip when leading. She looks to be the danger to the (4) off that run and gets a nice trailing draw. ANGEL ROCKS (1) has been a steady improver each time in its trial and will get its chance from the pole draw, whilst if MY FATAL CHARM (8) brought her best form and got the gaps when needed, she could loom late.
Selections I GOTTA GO (4), SPORTS WATCHER (9), MY FATAL CHARM (8), ANGEL ROCKS (1)
Race 2
Although its drawn the awkward inside back row gate over the mile, ENJOY LIFE (8) looks classes above these off its Melton trial breaking 1.55 mile rate and home in 26.5, so would expect it to open very short here. MILLYCENT (1) was backed $34 into $7 first up and just missed, making good ground from the back of the field. She has sufficient gate speed to hold up early and looks the clear 2nd pick in the race. HAMMERING SEAS (3) and MARVS DREAMING (2) get nice barriers over the mile and will be looking to run into the placings, whilst FANCY ANOTHER (7) comes through the same form lines as those above and improved sharply for a handy 3rd, however barrier 7 will make it harder here over the mile. VOODOO RANGER (9) was interfered with at the 600m in the same race, and gets a nice trailing draw.
Selections ENJOY LIFE (8), MILLYCENT (1), HAMMERING SEAS (2), VOODOO RANGER (9)
Race 3
MODERN JIVE (2) took the shortcuts last start when back in field and returned to form with that 2nd, he’ll be looking to cross to the pegs here over the mile distance which he loves. Not a whole lot of other gate speed off the front row bar FRANCO VAI (1), who led and weakened in a trial earlier in the week, and may look to take a sit anyway. SIR NIPPA (11) did too much work first up for the new stable last week when a short favourite, and may be suited following the speed more here, with YARECKON IM SWEET (9) and the emergency MIGHT AND TEMERITY (8) looking for the soft peg runs. IAMAHUNTER (3) should get some cover on speed and is going for 3 straight off a let up, but there’s numerous other chances in the field that will be relying on some more tempo than I expect to get into the finish, headed by SHOEBEES SPIRIT (5), KOSTYUK LEIS (10) and MOVESLIKEALADY (13).
Selections MODERN JIVE (2), YARECKON IM SWEET (9), KOSTYUK LEIS (10), SIR NIPPA (11)
Race 4
IMPERIAL LAZ (3) pinged the tapes 3 starts back, and ran a good 2nd at big odds. He will be looking to do the same here, as well as REPETITIVE (4) who came off 50m over 1810m race at St Marys last week, albeit a much weaker field. FLEETWOOD ROCK (1) is going much better than figure form shows, and the longer distance of 2579m and front row should allow him to get his chance on speed. WAZZA (9) had to do some work early in the St Marys Cup, and was narrowly beaten. He comes off 10m here with the claim of Tiarna Ford, as does DEMAND RESPECT (10) who was spotting hitting the line nicely last start, and meets a similar field here after competing in open class races prior. NOVA BAXTER (12) begun like a rocket off 20m last week against the mares, and will be looking to replicate that again here, and will be storming home.
Selections DEMANDS RESPECT (10), NOVA BAXTER (12), FLEETWOOD ROCK (1), IMPERIAL LAZ (3)
Race 5
The Listed Hobart Cup brings together Tassies best pacers, as well as the 9yo 1 million dollar earner in MACH DAN (7) from Victoria. He’s a proven grand circuit performer for many years now, and will be looking to show his class here. His last start showed he still has it when a tough 2nd at Melton, and although barrier 7 may look average on paper, he is super quick off the gate especially the first 50m. He will take some running down if he did find the front, however TRIEDTOTELLYA (4) will be pushing through hard early to stop that occurring. He hasn’t had to or been able to show his gate speed of late, but he is also very quick when asked, and will be looking to take advantage of drawing inside his main danger, to which this race will be a good guide to where he’s at if connections do head interstate this year. STAR MAJOR (3) is a tough old customer and finally gets a draw after copping back mark and back row draws most starts, he’ll be on speed and will love a strong tempo over the 2579m trip. The Conor Crook trio of MAGNETIC TERROR (10) and GLENLEDI ELVIS (6) look the next best chances, and we may see the (6) come out hard early to try to find himself a nice position on speed.
Selections TRIEDTOTELLYA (4), MACH DAN (7), STAR MAJOR (3), GLENLEDI ELVIS (6)
Race 6
Looks to be some solid tempo early here, with LUVTHAT (1) looking to hold up from the pole draw. He continues to race well without winning, as does MONEYS NO ISSUE (9), who gets a nice trialling draw. He looks to sit closer than he has previous starts, and may take some holding out late. FAMILY REASONS (4) led and won at Carrick last start, he’ll be looking to position handy on the speed, as will HARRYS DEAL (3) who looks the one to put it to the (1) early for the front. HAY MIKI (5) is racing very well and will be relying on some tempo and cover to get into the race from an awkward draw, whilst DAZZLE ME (10) will be doing similar following the (9) everywhere it goes. SPOOKY GIRL (8) will get a nice pegs run and hasn’t been far away of late since winning at odds when well backed.
Selections MONEYS NO ISSUE (9), LUVTHAT (1), HAY MIKI (5), DAZZLE ME (10)
Race 7
BEACH DANCER (3) is part of the Emma Stewart raid, and although beaten last start, he looks an improving type and his class should prevail, but don’t think it will be the easiest watch as he continues to learn his race craft. OZZIE PEARL (2) made ground in a fast last half last week chasing ROCKY STRIDE (10) who will have to come from the back row this week, but has been racing in great form for a while now. GLENVIEW LANIKAI (4) is a lightly raced 4yo mare but is improving each start, and will looking to be finishing on the podium if she was able to sit handy from the okay draw. RESURGENT WARRIOR (8) is quietly racing well and will be looking for gaps late, following HEY FRANCO (1) who if brought his best form, would be in the placings from the draw. KEAYANG GALLIANO (12) draws the grandstand but is racing well and expect her to be running home well again.
Selections BEACH DANCER (3), OZZIE PEARL (2), ROCKY STRIDE (10), GLENVIEW LANIKAI (4)
Race 8
Theres no shortage of gate speed here, and we may see a very slick mile being run. CELEBRITY ROYAL (3) is first up off a 20 month break, and clearly looks the class horse from his past form winning the Tasmanian Derby and strong performances in quality Victorian races. However, his trial was good without being super, and I would think FUN TO LOVE (1) may try for an all the way win here. She was only beaten 1m when going 1.54 4 starts back when leading, and the mile distance really suits her. THEE OLD BOMB (7) has electric gate speed when asked, if they did, that could change the speed maps dramatically and possibly aid the (3). OZZIE CORKA (4) has been in super form since arriving in the state, but this is a hard race with an awkward draw. ANOTHER NIEN (6) loves the mile and has great gate speed, but also think he may be driven more quiet first up from a small break.
Selections FUN TO LOVE (1), CELEBRITY ROYAL (3), OZZIE CORKA (4), ANOTHER NIEN (6)
