Former Hong Kong galloper Braccenby took a big step towards the Devonport Cup when he lumped 61kg to his fourth consecutive win at Spreyton on Tuesday.
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Cleverly ridden by apprentice Scarlet So, the Rowan Hamer-trained seven-year-old powered home to beat favourite Gee Gee Wynett by two lengths in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1350m).
The win certainly didn't surprise Hamer but the horse's price did.
"I know Gee Gee Wynett was entitled to be favourite but I thought we were a clear second pick yet he opened at $7," the trainer said.
Braccenby had a break after his previous win in mid-August and will now be able to race right through to the Devonport Cup in early January.
"He'll follow the Golden Mile - Sheffield Cup path and will have one run before then," Hamer said.
"He won over the Devonport Cup distance (1880m) last time in and ran good time."
Hamer said Braccenby, who started his career in Victoria before racing in Hong Kong, had turned the corner in the past few months.
"I think it took time for him to get over Hong Kong but we've now worked him out," the trainer said.
"And, he got a good ride from Scarlet today. She expected Gee Gee Wynett to hang out so she stayed down (near the rail) and it worked out perfectly."
Brendon McCoull took riding honours at the meeting with two winners from only three rides, scoring on Artuso and Willby Rules.
Trainer Stuart Gandy also landed a double with Fitzwilliam and Geegee Blackprince.
QUALITY FIELDS
Some of the major players will be missing but the two main races at Mowbray on Wednesday night will provide a valuable insight into Tasmania's biggest spring meeting.
Class mare Twitchy Frank returns from a spell in the $30,000 Goodwood Handicap, the traditional lead-up to the $100,000 Newmarket in three weeks.
And several of the state's most promising young horses will do battle in the $20,000 Tasbred 3YO, a lead-up to the $50,000 3YO Cup.
Twitchy Frank has had four starts for Adam Trinder, all in quality races, for two wins and two placings.
She hasn't raced since late April but has won both her previous first-up runs in Victoria and has easily won two recent trials at Longford.
Although she has to carry 60kg, she has won with that weight against her own sex at Caulfield and she's drawn to get a nice run.
There are plenty of dangers down in the weights including Gee Gee Lanett and Gee Gee Secondover who last year finished second in the Newmarket and 3YO Cup respectively.
Although last season's two-year-old of the year Mystical Pursuit has been scratched from the Tasbred 3YO, it's still a quality field including the unbeaten Mystical Warrior and Sirene Stryker.
BOX 1 LETHAL
The inside box proved the place to be in the two heats of the time-honoured Gold Collar at Mowbray on Monday night, with both red runners leading all the way.
The Ben Englund-trained Wynburn Lethal ($3.70) held on to beat Telfer by a length in the first heat in 30.02.
The winner's litter-mate Wynburn Babe, who went into the race unbeaten, started $2.80 favourite but settled last and lost all chance when forced off the track on the first turn. She finished fifth.
Telfer's trainer Michael Louth made amends in the second heat with Yellow Knife ($3.00 fav.) who flew out and gave nothing else a chance as he scored by eight lengths in 30.10.
Louth's luck held at the box draw for the final which is - 1 Yellow Knife, 2 Telfer, 3 Rachael, 4 Connected, 5 Wynburn Lethal, 6 Wynburn Redson, 7 Inner Circle, 8 Headwall, 9 Wynburn Babe (r), 10 Where's Broady (r).
BUTLER ON ROLL
Pipers River trainer Marc Butler has established an amazing strike-rate two months into the new harness season.
A double with Full Speed Ahead and Our Yankee Ginga at Mowbray on Sunday night took Butler to 11 wins from just 16 runners. He's also had three seconds.
Full Speed Ahead has had only four starts for the stable for two wins while former Victorian trotter Our Yankee Ginga has won his past five starts in a row
A former Kiwi, Our Yankee Ginga had won only two races in 15 Australian starts before joining Butler and one was a low-stake race at Mt Gambier.
His eight Tasmanian starts have netted $24,000.