A terrific card of racing awaits punters in Friday afternoon where the Ladbrokes Tasmanian Guineas and Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Stakes will both be run at Listed level.
The rail is in the +7m position for the day, last used in this spot on 31 July 2022. A pleasant 20 degrees is forecast for Friday and points towards a good rated surface.
R1 Alexandra Plate, 1100m
Thoros Of Myr (1) was hammered in betting on debut but it was a tough watch for punters, after racing outside the leader, and eventual winner, he threw any hope he had away by drifting badly up the track. The wind that night did present a challenge for inexperienced horses, and he raced like one that would benefit from settling on the rail. Popilita (3) led and was run over late on debut, before clinging on from the front to win in Devonport last start. She finished ahead of Kaboom Kaboom (5) when they met on race day with the latter settling last and taking a lot of ground off the leader late. She was a comfortable trial winner over BOBBLE (6) who bombed the start badly. She gets winkers and a senior jockey for her racing debut. Needs Sugar (4) enjoyed a nice transit last time in Launceston and should camp just behind the speed again here.
R2 Monotone Maiden, 1200m
Muscle Up (10) opened around $2.30 for a similar race last week but didn't make the trip. He draws poorly but brings a strong SP profile and three second place finishes from as many career starts. Zulu Angel (11) has covered ground in both runs this campaign but run very well. Back up to 1200m with a softer draw should suit him. Stablemate I'm Keefe (9) ran well resuming in the same race, as did Kings On Queens (15) who came from well back in the field. Ding Ding (14) is becoming a costly commodity for punters. She has a wide draw to contend with and was only fair returning off a freshen. CONUNDRUM (1) appears to have been just that for connections, debuting as a 5YO with trials against some nice horses dating back to 2020. His recent trial was solid, and Sarah Cotton is a stable that's always worth respecting. Move Like Jagger (5) is another recent trial winner who has threatened to win races several times before now. He resumes with a bad barrier but Craig Newitt in the saddle. Barmaid Girl (13) is a debutant who comes via the same trial and wasn't fully extended there. Rohzhae (6) has generally been consistent through his short career and will likely be around the money again.
R3 Ladbroke It! Bm62 Hcp, 1200m
Scott Brunton has four runners resuming here in what looks a tricky race for punters. FREAK ON A LEAD (2) has placed in three of four first-up runs and proven he can carry weight in the past. No jockey booking points towards BRINKTOP LAD (1) not running but he's a good horse on his day if here, albeit he's been allocated 63.5kg before a claim. ZADE'S STORIES (10) we've seen at the trials where he finished behind one that goes around in the previous race. SHAMPZ AGAIN (6) rounds out the Brunton quartet and is in the mix but hasn't delivered on what he promised early in his career. NEV'S BOY (8) settled a minute off them at 1400m last Friday. He gets blinkers on for the drop back to 1200m. MAGIC TYPHOON (11) had the best of a busy finish on the same program but this looks a fair bit harder despite only being a BM62. HEAVEN'S MIRACLE (12) will put speed into the race along with LUCKY BUCKY (3) but both tend to struggle to finish off their races, particularly the latter. MR FREEZE (5) is still only lightly exposed in Tasmania and did run a decent race over this distance at his first start for Gary White.
R4 Tasmanian Bloodstock Bm64 Hcp F&m, 1400m
GEE GEES JENNIA (3) was well-backed first-up and ran a good race after settling back in the field. She draws for a similar run here and is a three time winner over 1400m. TWEE (5) continues top pick up cheques this campaign but was perhaps a shade disappointing last time given the transit she had. SILVER PERSUASION (4) was an eye-catching run first-up but that was on 23 November. She maps to settle a bit closer to the speed. ZEVA ROYALE (7) was another runner who savaged the line resuming in a decent form race behind the flying Laylow Pluck. PIIINK BEAUTY (9) takes on the older horses out of the 3YO Trophy that was a recipe for success here last Friday. MAARKLE (1) hasn't carried more than 57kg in any of her Tassie starts so may possibly need this one resuming with 60.5kg. BLUSHED (2) has an outstanding Hobart record but the jury is out on her after recent public appearances. NEED A FLUTTER (6) is back in trip after racing seven days ago where she had heavy market support.
R5 Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Stakes, 1600m
No hiding from the disappointment of a $125,000 black-type race where four of the five horses come from the same stable. THE INEVITABLE (1) will be a short price to extend his winning streak this campaign to four. He's simply been too brilliant for them at 1100m, 1200m and 1400m in his three runs this time in. The cautionary tale for those declaring him a moral is that only one of his 13 career wins have been past 1400m and he was beaten in this race at $1.40 by a stablemate last year. REBEL FACTOR (4) showed he is up to this class with a game second in the Conquering. The leaders went very slow there, so he was entitled to give a good kick, but he left the leader FIRST ACCUSED (3) in his wake. Both of First Accused's mile runs came during his 3YO season and he looks a horse that's at a bit of a crossroads. MANDELA EFFECT (2) took inside runs resuming and finished on heels late in a nice return. His second-up record is mediocre given his overall stats and he'll likely be out the back chasing. BOND STREET BEAU (5) has had favours in the run in lesser grade when putting his own winning sequence together. This appears a resumption point on the way to the major cups.
R6 Ladbrokes Tasmanian Guineas, 1600m
BELLO BEAU (1) relished the step to 1400m for arguably his most impressive career win in the 3YO Trophy. Hobart held no fears for him as a 2YO and the way he hit the line last start suggested he'll run a strong mile. RUSSIAN RONI (2) is the fresh horse to Tasmanian audiences from the Waterhouse/Bott stable. He seemed to have things run on his terms in front across two recent victories, but kicked very strongly when challenged at Sandown. He's drawn the opposite side of the track from Bello Beau so early tactics will be fascinating. JAGUAR STONE (9) won her debut in Hobart and will likely appreciate a return to the wide expanses. She is a leading player for at least minor money once again. As was the case in the 3YO Trophy, Adam Trinder saddles several of the better chances with SHARMA'S LAST (5) rounding out his trio. He was a big run against the Launceston pattern last time, running past subsequent winners Just A Needs and Cloudy Nights. He's drawn 9/9 but has Craig Newitt to offset that. ROYAL AND TOUGH (3) was no match for Sharma's Last when they met on their respective debuts but has since won on three occasions. He's taken a different path to the race by beating the older horses. GEEGEES GEMSTONE (8) ran up to the market on debut before a flop on the synthetic. Connections press on with the campaign despite that poor run, suggesting the float trip and surface may have been the primary factors.
R7 Graham Family Funerals Brighton Cup, 2100m
Interesting edition of the Brighton Cup where GLASS WARRIOR (1) will carry 5kg more than the field as the only horse rated above 76 with her handicap rating at 90. She probably went as good as she could go in two Devonport mile runs to open the campaign and now gets to a more suitable trip. TRAVELLING GIGOLO (3) finished a spot ahead of her in the Golden Mile and has only had a very soft trial since then. Whether he's ready for this fitness wise is the query but he's won four of six starts at the T&D. SUPER SWOOP (4) worked home late to run third in the Longford Cup. Since arriving in Tassie, he's won four times and placed an additional three at distances over 1800m and above from nine starts. SO ASTOUNDING (2) couldn't have possibly had a better run in either of his last two victories and receives considerable weight relief. BELL RINGER BOY (5) was heavily backed over the Devonport staying trip last start and was nailed on the post. He's an unknown over 2100m and always gives a start. STEEL SKIES (7) wasn't far off Perun last start and he subsequently ran very well in the Longford Cup.
R8 Winning Edge Presentations Class 1 Hcp, 1400m
FLYING TO PARIS (3) tracked Bello Beau everywhere he went in the 3YO Trophy and was best of the rest behind him. She was nominated for the Guineas but takes on the older horses here instead. NICCO THE GREEK (1) continues to run into money without winning. The market always finds him so expect that to be the case again, particularly from a good draw. GEE GEE MISS QUITA (7) comes via the same race where a bunched finish makes the form a query, but Magic Typhoon can dispel that earlier. SCARDIMALIA (5) was a good thing beaten resuming back in October and duly came out and saluted next start. Resuming off a two month break at 1400m is interesting placement and she has a wide draw to overcome. ALVARINHO (8) was beaten early in the 3YO Trophy and should find that this is more around her rightful class. CORONATION VERONIC (4) makes her own luck on speed and will box on, particularly if Siggy Carr is able to cross the field early.
