Spreyton trainer Mark Ganderton has spent almost 14 months in the racing wilderness but showed he hadn't lost his touch when he produced an impressive debut winner at Mowbray on Wednesday night.
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Sirene Stryker, backed from $3.10 to $2.40 with tab.com.au, went to the line under only hands-and-heels riding to take out the 3YO Maiden.
Ganderton has only recently completed a 12-month disqualification and the filly was his first runner since August 26 last year.
"She has shown plenty at home but you're always a bit nervous until they do it on raceday," the trainer said.
She has shown plenty at home but you're always a bit nervous until they do it on raceday
- Trainer Mark Ganderton
"Her owners have been very patient and have given her time.
"It's a big syndicate with a lot of first-time owners and three-quarters of them are first-time clients of mine.
"They've had a lot of faith in me and followed my advice so I really hope she makes the grade for them."
Ganderton said Sirene Stryker was bought at the Tasmanian Magic Millions for $45,000.
Confidently ridden by Daniel Ganderton, the filly settled outside the leader Tough Boy and always looked to have that horse covered.
Ganderton even took a quick peep over his shoulder on the home turn to see if anything was coming but the others were posing no threat.
ON TARGET
Classy mare Gee Gee Lanett showed she was on target for another crack at the Newmarket with a gutsy first-up win in the Benchmark 74 Handicap (1100m).
Ridden by Scarlet So, the five-year-old sat outside the speedy Apriano before running him down in a time just outside the track record.
Gee Gee Lanett ran second to I'm Wesley in last year's Newmarket and trainer Stuart Gandy said she had "come back as good as ever."
"She's been working super and trialled nicely but we've held off racing her until we could get back on the grass," Gandy said.
Favourite-backers wouldn't have been impressed when Street Tough ($3.60 to $2.90) was allowed to run after twice playing up in the barriers.
He missed the start and was never a chance, finishing second-last and 3-1/2 lengths from the winner.
ANXIOUS MOMENTS
Luca Bratzi made a winning Tasmanian debut in the Class 1 Handicap but not before giving his owners, backers and jockey Craig Newitt a fright.
The $2.90 into $2.30 favourite settled further back than trainer John Blacker expected after a slightly tardy start but stormed home to grab front-runner Knitting in the last stride.
"Our plan was to ride him more forward than what he was but, if you can't get there, you've got to take plan B," Blacker said.
"At the 400m, I thought he was probably going to work home and run a nice fourth or fifth and be ready for next time.
"But we got a of bit of luck and he found the line pretty strongly."
Luca Bratzi began his career with Blacker but, after winning two trials, was sent straight to Victoria.
"We thought he was good enough to win one of those VOBIS maidens over there, which he did, then after a couple more runs he came home," the trainer said.
"He's better than a class 1 horse."
Earlier in the day, a former Blacker-trained horse, Double You Tee, continued Tasmania's good week on interstate tracks when he won a $135,000 race at Caulfield.
It was the third straight win for the Tasmanian-owned and bred five-year-old.
BAKER'S FIRST
After missing six weeks while he was in NSW, Troy Baker rode his first local winner for the new season when Safe Journey took out the Maiden Plate in a blanket finish.
The Scott Brunton-trained mare scored by a nose from Gee Gees Turf Talk with Needadollarbill a nose away third. Vallabar was a head away fourth and favourite Murano a close fifth after failing to get a clear run.