Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir will chase a clean sweep of Tasmania’s major three-year-old staying races at Mowbray on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Weir has two of the seven interstate nominations for the $150,000 Tasmanian Oaks, the last of four feature events for the age group over 2100m or further.
He has already won the $100,000 Hobart Guineas with Wolfendale, $150,000 Tasmanian Derby with Civil Disobedience and $100,000 Strutt Stakes with Pleasuring.
The three Strutt Stakes placegetters could clash again in the Oaks, as Weir has also nominated his third placegetter Maheera and Patrick Payne has entered runner-up Casa De Lago.
The other Victorian nominations are Berkshire Lady (Danny O’Brien), Christie and Shock Shock (Nigel Blackiston) and Last Light (Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra).
Weir won’t decide till later in the week how many runners he will have on Sunday – he’s also nominated Brugal Reward for the $150,000 Vamos Stakes – but stable foreman Jarrod McLean expects both Pleasuring and Maheera to return.
“Darren is always looking at the calendar and picking races for these type of horses, particularly the fillies, with the aim of getting some black type,” McLean said.
“We got a good result last time when Pleasuring won well and Maheera almost pinched it.”
APPRENTICE RIDERS COMING TO TOWN
The first round of the National Apprentice Jockeys Series in Launceston on Sunday will ensure there is no shortage of riders at the meeting.
There are 11 interstate apprentices scheduled to make the trip and, as well as competing in two apprentice-only events, they will be available for all races.
The visitors will be – Leticia Griffin, Alexandra Bryan, Mikaela Lawrence, Trent Germaine (Vic); Lachlan Dodds, Krogh Quayde (Qld); Lorelle Crow (NT); Fiona Bell (WA); Dylan Caboche, Anna Jordsjo (SA) and Jean Van Overmeire (NSW).
The Benchmark 58 Handicap is the official heat of the national series and as such riders will be allocated by random draw.
The Class 1 Plate is also restricted to apprentices but trainers can select their own riders.
ADELAIDE TRAINER AFTER BIG PAYDAY
Adelaide trainer Leon MacDonald could be heading home with $580,000 of Tasmania’s summer carnival prizemoney.
MacDonald’s two-horse travelling team of Pretty Punk and Gogo Grace has already earned $240,000 for wins in the Hobart Cup and Bow Mistress.
The trainer has confirmed they will now contest the Launceston Cup and Vamos Stakes respectively where they could earn the same amount again, plus a $100,000 cups double bonus.
