G3 Kevin Sharkie Bow Mistress S., $150,000, 1200m
Valuable black type is on offer for some quality mares and fillies in the feature race of the first day of the Hobart Cup carnival on Friday.
As is often the case, the interstate raiders have come thick and fast for this carnival and in the case of this race, the locals will have a challenge preventing the prizemoney from disappearing across Bass Strait.
The top of the market is dominated by a quartet of Victorians, with last-start Moonee Valley runner-up Florescent Star (Zoustar) considered the leading contender for Amy and Ash Yargi. This is the first time she tackles stakes company and she has been very consistent this campaign.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Award Winner (Exceed And Excel) has also been very consistent with third-placings at her past two starts at Caulfield and Flemington. This is a rise in class for her as well.
Zoushine (Zoustar) resumes for the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable and does boast a win and two seconds from her two fresh runs. She has the added advantage of having been placed twice in stakes company earlier in her career.
The Kevin Corstens-trained Bons Abroad (Bon Hoffa) was thereabouts in mares' Group company in the spring and that measures up well for this type of race. But she too is fresh and does tend to take a run or two to find her best.
The leading local hopes are the Adam Trinder-trained filly Miss Tuppence (Capitalist), a winner of five of eight, including her last two, and Bill Ryan's Take The Sit (Tough Speed {USA}), who resumes off a let-up and does show a liking for the Elwick track.
Listed Schweppes Tasmanian Derby, $150,000, 2200m
Last year's Tasmanian Derby produced a future dual Group 1 winner in Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}), and while on face value there doesn't appear a horse with that level of improvement in the field, you just never know.
Patrick Payne has brought over The Nephew (Wordsmith) off a good win at Kyneton last time out. This is a family that Prime Thoroughbreds have had a degree of success with through horses such as Rubisaki (Rubick).
The three-start maiden No Surprises (Clangalang) is second pick in the race, having run home resolutely into second in the Listed Launceston Guineas last time out. Siggy Carr takes the ride for her father Royston Carr.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace won this race last year and are represented by Dodgy One (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), who comes off a Donald maiden win. He is half to Group 1 winner Pondarosa Miss (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and her Listed-winning and Group 1-placed brother Ecuador (NZ), so has the credentials to step up in class here.
Listed Graham Family Funerals Strutt S., $100,000, 2100m
The traditional lead-up to the Listed Tasmanian Oaks, the Strutt S. looks a race in two, with the local hopes sustained by Scott Brunton's filly Verbano (Alpine Eagle), a winner of two of her four starts.
She is coming off a last-start second in the Tasmanian Thousand Guineas behind one of her rivals here, Gee Gee Enuf Speed (Rich Enuff), and the 2100 metres looks well suited to Brunton's filly turning the tables here.
However, Patrick Payne has Bundle Of Fun (Written Tycoon) in this race and she is back against her own sex after finishing third in the Listed Launceston Guineas last time out. Prior to that, she was a convincing winner at Warrnambool. She is a half-sister to recent Listed winner Kubrick (Shooting To Win).
The Leanne Gaffney-prepared Ashmania (Wordsmith) is also conceded a chance off a Class 1 win last time out, while the Team Wells pair, Gee Gee Enuf Speed and Gee Gee Miss Quita (Clangalang), can also figure.
