One of Tasmania’s most successful jockey exports Teagan Voorham returns to the state this weekend to ride in Hobart on Sunday.
In Brief
- Trainer to wait until morning of race to decide on And Beyond starting.
- Deroche's recent record in Hobart a worry for punters.
- First Accused the best of Brunton's trio.
Voorham left Tasmania two years ago in an endeavour to broaden her horizons in South Australia and she accomplished the feat, despite being out of action for six months due to a race fall.
But the fully recovered young rider is now aligned to the powerful Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas stable at Morphettville and she is considered one of the best and most successful jockeys in SA.
Voorham will be hoping talented and lightly raced five-year-old And Beyond makes the trip to Hobart on Sunday as he is considered a top chance of taking out the $30,000 Goodwood Handicap over 1100m, the feature race on the seven-event card.
And Beyond's trainer Tanya Hanson will wait until the 7.30am scratching deadline on Sunday as to whether the gelding will make the trip from his Longford stable.
"The horse needs to get his rating up to be certain of making it into the Newmarket (in Launceston on 1 December) or win the Goodwood to gain ballot-free entry into that race," Hanson said.
"We will be keeping a close eye on the weather and the track conditions before making a final decision on Sunday morning.
"We have another option and that is a benchmark 76 handicap over 1200m in Launceston next Wednesday night."
However, And Beyond will carry only 54kg on Sunday but with a rating of 81 he will be forced to lug 61.5kg next Wednesday night unless Hanson opts to book a claiming apprentice.
The Goodwood promises to be the best race held on the track this season if the full field of 11 turns up.
Flying mare Deroche failed to flatter in a race at Sandown two starts back but she proved that was just a blip on the radar by bouncing back for a win at her most recent outing in an open handicap over 1120m in Launceston three weeks ago.
The mare's trainer Barry Campbell l said there was an issue with the mare in Melbourne but her trackwork and demeanour around the stables since her last-start win has been excellent.
Deroche's last two visits to Hobart have resulted in shock losses when sent out an odds-on favourite.
She finished third of seven in last season's Goodwood Handicap when an easing $1.90 favourite and at her most recent try on the Hobart track, she finished fifth of six in the 2021 Bow Mistress Stakes in February, beaten almost 10 lengths when starting the $1.35 favourite.
If bookmakers put up short odds for Deroche, punters will have to base their trust on the mare's last start win and not her most recent form on the Hobart circuit.
The John Blacker-trained Blaze Forth has trialed well recently and while the 1100m is a bit short for him, he has never looked better going into a summer campaign and could surprise at odds.
Premier trainer Scott Brunton will saddle up three in Lim's Cruiser, Ruettiger and First Accused with the latter his best winning hope and will probably need to win to get into the Newmarket.
First Accused hasn't raced since missing a place at Caulfield in late May but his win on home soil over Algernon in the $50,000 Autumn Classic over 1400m in Hobart before heading to Melbourne was one of his best efforts.
Brunton has purposefully saved him for a first-up tilt over 1100m.
Algernon is rising through the ranks and his first-up win in Hobart (1100m) two weeks ago was awesome and this will give trainer Imogen Miller a good idea of where the four-year-old fits in the big picture.
The Goodwood is race five on the seven-event card and if the rain comes as expected then maybe outside barriers won't be a disadvantage.
