Former Victorian pacer Somedan emerged as a possible Devonport Cup contender with an upset win over a qualify field in the Discretionary Handicap in Devonport on Sunday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Ben Yole-trained gelding took the lead soon after the start and wasn't headed for the remainder of the 2645m trip.
He just held on to beat stablemate Perfect Mach, who trailed him all the way, with veteran Poker Storm, who raced three back on the pegs after starting from a 10m handicap, close up in third place.
Favourite Pachacuti ($2.90 to $3.70) finished just behind the placegetters but never really threatened from his 20m handicap.
Somedan, another winner for in-form reinsman Troy McDonald, joined the Yole stable in May and has since won six races.
He had some market support, closing at $15 with tab.com.au after touching $18.
The $30,000 Devonport Cup will be run over 3020m on Sunday February 2.
IN-FOAL MARE WINS INCENTIVE
Vouvray Beach, who is in foal, led all the way to win the $12,000 Mares Incentive despite being subjected to some fairly intense pressure in the run.
Master reinsman Ricky Duggan refused to surrender the front and Vouvray Beach showed her class by kicking clear before the home turn.
She went to the line 5m ahead of Karpenkova Leis and Mavis Merle to record her first victory since November 2018.
Vouvray Beach is trained by Rod Ashwood who has revealed that she is in foal to the Bettor's Delight stallion Betting Line.
Duggan had only two drives at the meeting and went home with a perfect record.
He also led all the way on A Spanish Dream in the $10,000 3YO landing a confident $4.60 to $2.80 plunge.
A Spanish Dream was having her first start for the Marc Butler stable and her second start as a three-year-old.
She won in Hobart last season when trained by her breeder Brian Stanley.
PUNTERS WARM UP ON FROSTYFLYER
Widely-travelled pacer Frostyflyer appreciated a drop in class to win the Rating 55-64 and land some good bets in the process.
The eight-year-old, who raced in Victoria, SA and WA before finding his way to the Ben Yole stable, was backed from $5 into $2.80 favourite.
He was three wide for the latter half of the race but was still able to kick away to score by 10m from stablemates Oneofthelads and Stylish Trend.
Frostyflyer's recent runs had all been in higher grade including an eighth to Ryley Major in the $30,000 Tassie Golden Apple final when beaten only 6m.
