Tas Racing : Latest News Feed

Rising Star Returns

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:02:04 EST

The re-appearance of promising filly Black `N' Tough will be one of the highlights of Sunday's eight-race meeting at Devonport -- but she won't be much value for punters.

The Leon Wells-trained three-year-old is a red hot favourite to make it two wins from two starts when she resumes from a short break in the Class 1 Handicap.

Black `N' Tough made her debut at the same track on March 4 with an easy all-the-way maiden win, starting $2.80 favourite and landing some good bets.

She had won a barrier trial five days earlier but it was what she had done in private that had Wells and owner Chris Wickham confident of success.

During her first preparation, when she didn't race, Black `N' Tough was working with highly-rated stablemate Rebel Bride and proving very competitive.

Rebel Bride went on to win a string of races including the $150,000 Bow Mistress Stakes.

"She was certainly keeping Rebel Bride honest last time in,'' Wells said after the filly's debut win.

"She's a smart filly and, being a big gross doer, she's only going to improve with racing.''

Wickham picked Black `N' Tough out of a paddock at Armidale Stud and leased her from owner-breeder Tony Shadforth.

The Tough Speed filly is a full sister to five-time winner Speed Control and a half sister to Mr Buttkicka who ran fourth in the Hobart Cup and won the Newnham and Jockey Club cups.

Black `N' Tough is opposed to a handy field on Sunday and drawn wide, so another win would confirm that she's headed for better races.

Brendon McCoull, coming off a five-win haul at Mowbray last Saturday and only half a win behind Stephen Maskiell on the premiership table, has the ride.

Both jockeys have several good chances at the meeting and it would be no surprise if they rode five or six winners between them.

- Courtesy of the The Examiner

Silent Giggle leads all the way in Medley

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:10:25 EST

Versatile performer Silent Giggle made it three wins in a row when leading all the way to score a 5 length victory in last night's Vet Series Medley Final at Tattersall's Park.

Owned by Len Harley and trained at Moonah by Loretta Luttrell this striking white and black daughter of Silent Guardian has shown during this series alot of versality and adaptability winning the heats over both the middle and sprint distance.

Last night jumping from the cherry she was soon in control of the race leading from boxrise and virtually had the race won in the first fifty metres as she is so strong.

Silent Giggle has now had 32 starts for 10 wins and 16 placings and Luttrell has the flexibility of placing her kennel star in any race, at any track, over any distance knowing she will give her 110% every time she steps off the mat.

Megastar Spargo for Ian Callinan ran a solid race for second while the consistent Rocket Tadmore grabbed third in front of Classic Camdale.

Silent Giggle's next challenge will be next Thursday night's Premier Stakes (a free to all) over the 599m.

Story by Peter Hayes

Martello Towers wins first race for Fahey

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:32:30 EST

Martello Towers for Brighton part owner trainer Gary Fahey became the fourth in the Bombastic Shiraz - Becky Baba litter to salute following his impressive victory last night.

Jumping to the lead from box rise he lead all the way with splits of 5.19, 11.36 stopping the clock at 26.56 to win by a half length from the fast finishing Misty Sky with Surf Osti a further six lengths way third.

Martello Towers has had his fair share of illness and injury and after his first up third he had to be scratched the next week due to illness.

He has only had the one trial since that run in early May so you can expect this pup to further improve on his maiden victory.

Silver Strand, Bastille Border and Shadow Reef have all and will win more races and punter's should follow all these pups over the coming months.

Story by Peter Hayes

Former barrier rogue breaks maiden status

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:20:07 EST

DEVONPORT trainer Glenn Stevenson’ persistence with four-year-old mare Savannah Cat finally paid off with an all the way victory at Launceston on Saturday over 1400 metres.

Proving fractious in the barriers throughout her eight start career Savannah Cat remained blindfolded but patient in the stalls under jockey Shannon Brazil for what must have seemed an eternity to Stevenson due to the failure to load Mijn Jongen.

Sent to the front on jumping from an inside stall, Savannah Cat showed good early speed to comfortably hold the lead until challenged rounding the home turn. Never leaving the rails the mare managed to have enough in reserve to score narrowly by a nose on the line from the unlucky Espry with Genuine Gee Gee in third.

Savannah Cat has been quite a project for Stevenson since picking up the mare at the Inglis Sales in early 2011.

Sent to the paddock in October after the mare was again scratched from the barrier in Devonport, Stevenson knew a complete training overhaul was needed to keep her racing.

“After she was scratched at Devonport, we sent her to the paddock for 5 months, I changed her feed and work and although a slow process, gradually the mare has improved’ said Stevenson

Stevenson currently sits sixth on the Tasmanian trainers premiership with 20 winners for the season and a strike rate of 19.80%.

Alabar Breeding Seminars

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:43:30 EST

Alabar, the leaders in harness (standardbred) breeding in Australia, will conduct two breeding seminars in Tasmania – Hobart on Thursday night 24 May and Launceston on Friday night 25 May.

Titled From Conception To The Winning Post, the seminars will focus on breeding and foal management including:

Management of the broodmare through to foaling.
Care of the newborn foal and the importance of colostrum.
The treatment of foals with limb abnormalities.

The seminars are applicable to both harness and thoroughbred breeders.

Veterinarian Kath McIntosh will lead the seminars. She is the Assistant Manager at Alabar and is responsible for the health and well-being of the Alabar stock. McIntosh owns Northern Rivers Equine Vet Clinic and employs another three vets during the stud season. She takes great pride in following clients’ horses from conception through to racing and recognises the importance of reducing the attrition rate of both thoroughbred and harness foals.

Venues and times for the seminars are:

Thursday 24 May – Horse And Hound Bar, Tattersalls Park, Hobart – 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm.

Friday 25 May – Balmoral On York, Launceston – 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm.

Light refreshments and finger food will be available at both seminars. Bookings are not required but attendees are encouraged to arrive before 6.00 pm to ensure the seminars start on time.

Please contact Kevin Neilson for further details - 62129316 or k.neilson@tasracing.com.au