Jockey Jason Maskiell has made a fleeting trip home from Victoria to ride at this week’s dual Tasmanian meetings.
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Maskiell has three good chances at Mowbray on Wednesday night but the main reason for his return is to ride last-start Flemington placegetter Street Tough at Elwick on Saturday.
“Street Tough is a very good horse and he’ll just be winning, you would think,” the jockey said.
“I had planned to come home on Thursday to see the family before going to Hobart.
“But I decided I may as well come a couple of days earlier and take in the Mowbray meeting.”
Maskiell’s three rides on Wednesday night are all for leading trainer Scott Brunton .
“They all look good chances,” the jockey said.
“With No Name looks the winner of his race – he put in a massive run at his first start – and Savs Finale just needs the right run.
“Our Shanakee probably needs a bit of rain but he’s a smart horse.”
Maskiell has had a quiet time since moving to Victoria at the start of the season but now has his weight in check and is ready to get serious.
“I’m walking around at 59kg and I’d like to ride at 57kg – I’m confident I will get there,” he said.
“At the moment I’m not attached to any stable but I’ve been living at Moe and that’s too far from the city.
“I’m about to look for a place at Pakenham and once I get that sorted I’ll start riding at all the jumps-out and see what happens.”
CAULFIELD TEST
Tasmanian-bred galloper Junipal, a 10-length Donald maiden winner eight days ago, will make his city debut at Caulfield on Wednesday.
The Darren Weir-trained colt – a half brother to group 1 winner Palentino – is $3 favourite with Ubet for the $120,000 3YO Plate over 1600m.
MATCH-RACE FLOPS
The clash between promising greyhounds Stop Line and Buckle Up Axon at Devonport on Tuesday turned out to be an anti-climax.
Stop Line, trained by Jillian Stamford, worked to the early lead and was never challenged as he went on to record an easy win.
The Gary Johnson-trained Buckle Up Axon was never in the hunt after settling midfield and only battled into fourth place.
Punters and bookmakers considered the Mixed 3-4 event such a match-race that at one stage both dogs were in red figures in fixed-odds markets.
Although Stop Line ended up favourite on the normal tote at $1.90, Buckle Up Axon closed the fixed-odds favourite at $1.85.
Stop Line has now won seven of his past eight starts.