There's a bit of a cult following for him now
- Trainer Glenn Stevenson
It was all about jockeys and winning doubles at Spreyton on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For two riders, doubles were enough to provide a satisfying end to the 2018-19 racing season.
But, for two others, doubles weren't quite enough, leaving them agonisingly short of their ultimate goals.
The big winners were Alex Patis, who clinched the apprentices' premiership with her wins on Enzian and Kenfromthebar, and Hong Kong jockey Dylan Mo who made a bold statement at his first Tasmanian meeting with wins on Wineglass Bay and Century Arrow.
Craig Newitt (Varekai and Cunning Fox) and Chris Graham (Queen's Needs and Westy) were equally successful on the scoreboard but both would have loved to do slightly more.
One more win would have made Newitt only the third jockey to ride 100 Tasmanian winners in a season and would have given Graham a share of his second successive apprentices' title.
Newitt still topped a century for the season on a national basis, as he also won two races at Flemington, two at Doomben and one at Sandown.
For 19-year-old Patis, a premiership in her first full season of riding in Tasmania is a solid foundation for her next adventure.
She will soon head to Queensland to further her career.
Patis hadn't ridden a winner when she came from Victoria just over a year ago.
But she didn't take long to rectify that situation, scoring on Shackley's Hill at Spreyton at her first ride in the state.
TWO REASONS TO SHOUT THE BAR
Kenfromthebar hasn't always been the punters' friend but things have changed.
The five-year-old made it two wins in a row when he led most of the way in the Benchmark 72 Handicap.
And, despite the fact that he was stepping up sharply from a benchmark 58 win, he was again well backed ($7.50 to $4.40 with tab.com.au).
"His owners like a bet and good on them for being so staunch," trainer Glenn Stevenson said.
"And, because of his name, I think there's a bit of a cult following for him now.
"He's done a good job because it's not easy to go from a 58 to a 72.
"He never used to back up but he's never pulled up as well as he did after last week's win."
Kenfromthebar hails from Western Australia but Stevenson said his early career was hindered by abnormal sesamoid bones
"That comes from not having the right start in life; not getting the right minerals when they're young and growing," the trainer said.
"Early on he had problems with shin soreness."
Stevenson said Kenfromthebar was at his best in front and, for that reason, was better suited over 1150m than 1000m where they go much harder.