Mister John wins last night's Guineas
HALL of Fame jockey Stephen Maskiell and Hobart racehorse owner Dr John Burke took their haul of wins in the Tasmanian Guineas to eight after a brilliant display by Mister John at Mowbray last night.
It was Maskiell's fifth victory in Tasmania's feature three-year-old race with his first coming in 1987 on Lord Manina and followed by Golden Serpent (1992), Don Zao (1995) and Nova Clause (1998).
It has also been a lucky race for Dr Burke who made it a hat-trick of wins after Justin Tomorrow (1994) and Don Zao.
``This is one of my greatest thrills in racing and I've been in it for a long time,'' Dr Burke said.
``Tonight was one of the best fields of three-year-olds we've seen and I thought we were out of it at the 400 metres.''
With plenty of early pace Mister John and runner-up Kenjorwood settled near the rear of the field before making searching runs around the field with What Life Brings a close up third.
Dr Burke said it was his intention to spell Mister John as he didn't think he was quite mature enough to tackle races like the Tasmanian Derby.
It is not a view shared by Maskiell who wants the owner to discuss the gelding's future with Brighton trainer Royston Carr.
Maskiell believes Mister John Leg 1would be well suited in the Hobart Guineas later this month.
VISITING Victorian jockey Peter Mertens had punters on the back foot after 40-1 chance Ourmaher won the first race.
The primary reason for Mertens riding at Mowbray was to continue his successful association with top stayer Geegees Blackflash and answered a call from Longford trainer Peter Luttrell to ride Ourmaher.
Ourmaher was making his second appearance after beating just three home at his debut behind Deceitful Cove at Mowbray a fortnight ago.
The four-year-old gave Mertens a tough ride during the race before knuckling down to his task in the home straight.
``He's very green and the more I fought him the worse he got,'' Mertens said.
Eventually Mertens was able to angle Ourmaher off the fence in the closing stages and took a narrow gap between Cerise Sauvage and Kobble Creek.
The win continues the recent run of success for Luttrell who was quick to praise jockey Michael Guthrie for his efforts in riding trackwork for him.
TOP jockey Craig Newitt is predicting a bright future for promising staying mare Knots Sister.
Newitt made it two wins in a row on the four-year-old when she outstayed her opposition to win the Ron Evans Memorial (2100m).
``I was surprised she had only won a maiden when she won with such authority in Hobart and tonight she has done it again,'' Newitt said.
``It wouldn't surprise me to see her in the better races next year.''
It was an opinion shared by the mare's part-owner Dean Kearney who said the long-term aims were the major cups in 2014.
Knots Sister is trained at Brighton by Royston Carr.
Newitt said it was a privilege to win a race named in honour of one of Tasmania's greatest jockeys.
The win continued a busy schedule for Newitt and came 24 hours after he rode the Bagot and Standish Handicap double at Flemington.
He will return to Tasmania next Wednesday to ride Lightly Spiced in the $100,000 Devonport Cup and then fly to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions on unbeaten two-year-old Clevadude.
AFTER missing his first three rides because of a postponed flight veteran jockey Darren Gauci quickly made amends wining the F&W Stewart Silver Ingot 2YO on first starter Spinning Jenny.
The filly, trained at Broadmarsh by Brendan McShane, showed some potential to race away from Miss Elsa and Hoop in the straight.
McShane put together a syndicate of 18 owners to race Spinning Jenny with many of them enjoying their first winner.