Leading trainer Scott Brunton's dominance of Tasmanian racing has risen to a new level in the past month.
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There have been six meetings in the past 30 days - four on turf and two on synthetic - and he's had 18 winners from 44 starters at a strike-rate of 41 per cent.
His overall strike-rate this season is 27 per cent despite the fact that racing in August and September was exclusively at Spreyton - the track Brunton loves to hate.
Since racing returned to the turf, he has won 14 of the 31 races conducted.
As well as 24 winners from 89 starters this season, he's had another 44 horses finish in the top four.
His strike-rate compares more than favourably with every leading trainer in Australia.
Tony Gollan (Qld) is also on 27 per cent with Adam Durrant (WA) on 24 per cent, Tony and Calvin McEvoy (SA) 21 per cent, the Maher/Eustace partnership (Vic) 20 per cent and Chris Waller (NSW) 12 per cent.
At Elwick on Saturday, Brunton had runners in five races and won three of them. He also had four minor placegetters and his worst result from eight starters was a fourth.
That puts him well ahead of schedule to become the first Tasmanian trainer to win 100 races in a season.
FIRST WIN FOR NOVICE TRAINER
Scott Brunton was a background player in two other races on Saturday.
His partner Tegan Keys won with Ascot Lad and former employee Joel Flannery won with Miss Iso.
It was Flannery's first win as a trainer, having only obtained his licence at the start of the season.
The 32-year-old spent time with Brunton early in his career before working for Lloyd Williams in Victoria.
When he returned to Tasmania, Williams gave him an injury-troubled gelding Lygon, a half brother to Melbourne Cup winner Almandin.
Lygon is entered for the Class 1 Plate over 1600m at Mowbray on Friday night.
Flannery has four horses in work on Brunton's property at Seven Mile Beach.
"I hope to expand eventually but you've got to get the winners on the board to get owners," he said.
"Hopefully this win will give me a kick start."
PIRES SECOND ON NATIONAL FIGURES
David Pires, who rode four winners from five rides at Elwick, also has an imposing strike-rate.
His 22 wins so far this season have come from only 86 rides (25.6 per cent).
Of the leading jockeys in each state, only Ryan Maloney (Qld) is above him on 32.5 per cent.
TWO DRIVERS COP FOUR-MEETING BANS
Leading junior driver Taylor Ford will start a four-meeting suspension after competing in Hobart on Tuesday night.
The charge dates back to October 11 when she pleaded guilty to breaking the new whip rules on The Thug. She was also fined $400.
Barrie Rattray was also suspended for four meetings for causing interference at Mowbray on Sunday night.
Stewards found that Rattray allowed Kohanah to shift out between the 800m and 700m in the 3YO Pace when not clear of Kivik, making contact with that horse which then broke.
Rattray pleaded not guilty.
TRAINER HOPING FOR CHANGE OF LUCK
Kivik's trainer Rachel Williams will be hoping for better luck in Hobart on Tuesday night when she fronts up with just one runner, Red Shed Robbie, in the opening race.
Although it's hard to be confident about a horse that has won only once in 86 starts, the seven-year-old looks a chance in a very moderate field.
Two starts ago in Hobart, he just failed to run down Bettonblack after tracking him into the race then at Mowbray 16 days ago he trailed the leader and battled on fairly without getting much room in the closing stages.
Leading trainer Ben Yole will supply four of his rivals including the obvious danger Mach Charm.
"She's been going around in a couple of strong mares' races against 65-raters so coming down to a rating 30-45 race is a massive drop in class," Yole said.
"Gentleman Red has also found his right class - he's run a fifth and sixth lately against probably a lot better horses."
Gentleman Red will be driven by Conor Crook who was again the stand-out performer at Mowbray on Sunday night with a treble.
"The last time Conor drove him he said he should have won on him," Yole said.
"But he learnt a bit about him and hopefully this time he clicks a bit better with him."
QUALITY LINE-UP FOR PUPPY SERIES
Heats of the popular George & Eileen Johnston Puppy Championship highlight the greyhound meeting in Devonport on Tuesday.
The program made provision for four heats but, with only 20 acceptors, there will be just three.
It's nonetheless a quality lineup with the likes of Wynburn Sheean, Highland Wonder, Vintage Fame, Quick Joey Small, Winklee Ted, Highland Chief and Highland Fame chasing a place in next week's final worth a total of almost $6500.
Recall is a key scratching from the third heat, leaving Highland Chief a very shorted-priced favourite.
Bet365's markets -
HEAT 1: 1.10 Wynburn Sheean, 6.50 Parkour, Highland Wonder, 14.00 Just Rambling; 67.00 She's It; 126.00 Buckle Up Kavi.
HEAT 2: 2.15 Quick Joey Small, Vintage Fame; 5.00 Winklee Ted; 9.00 Wynburn Express; 18.00 My Bro Joe.
HEAT 3: 1.25 Highland Chief; 4.00 Highland Fame; 6.00 Wynburn Burner; 15.00 Action Plus; 51.00 Langley Roo; 101.00 Buckle Up Kenzie.
BIG MONEY UP FOR GRABS AT MOWBRAY
Two $50,000 features will be on the nine-race thoroughbred program at Mowbray on Friday night.
The 3YO Handicap has attracted a good lineup headed by Thunberg, Freelancer, Gee Gee Josie and Gee Gee Goldenlass while the 4YO Handicap sees Galenus topweight in an exceptionally strong field.