Toorak Affair will have to create modern-day history to win the $100,000 Newmarket Handicap at Mowbray on Wednesday night.
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No Hobart Cup winner has returned to win the state's premier sprint nine months later - at least not in the past 60 years.
In fact, only two horses in that time have won both races, Geegees Blackflash and Haughty Boy, and they won them in the opposite order.
Geegees Blackflash won the Newmarket in 2011 preceding his first Hobart Cup win in 2012 and Haughty Boy won the Newmarket in 1965 before winning the Hobart Cup two years later.
Although she emerged as the state's best stayer last season, Toorak Affair also has a useful sprint record. Her eight starts over 1200m have netted two wins and four seconds.
It usually takes a good 1400m horse to win the Newmarket and Toorak Affair has won four times over that distance.
Trainer Michael Trinder has reported that the seven-year-old is ready to go.
He said she had "galloped brilliantly" over 1400m in a recent hit-out and "her work has improved on her previous preparation."
Toorak Affair won first-up last time in - her first start for Trinder - and, although it was only a benchmark 76 race, the opposition was more than handy. Shot Of Irish ran second and Speed Force third.
She then ran a close fourth to three-time Newmarket winner I'm Wesley in the 1400m Conquering.
None of the major corporates had posted a market at the time of writing but topweight Mandela Effect will be favourite. Leading local bookmaker Nick Whelan expects him to open between $2.50 and $2.70.
LONE LOCAL EQUAL CHASE FAVOURITE
Lone North West runner Wynburn Sheean has opened equal favourite for Tuesday's $25,000-to-the-winner Devonport Chase final.
Bet365 has the boom youngster at $3.50 alongside Victorian visitor Zevatron in a market where six runners are under double-figure odds.
Wynburn Sheean has won eight of his 11 starts including six races over the Devonport 452m course but Wynyard trainer Ben Englund admits he faces a difficult assignment from box 8.
"There's a lot of speed dogs in the race and the draw will be hard to overcome," Englund said.
"But he put up a tremendous effort to win his heat and it's not beyond him to jump quickly and get across."
Zevatron will be one of two runners for Victorian trainer Paul Abela who also qualified Aston Pilsner, a $15 chance drawn box 7.
Abela couldn't accompany the dogs to Tasmania due to the COVID-19 restrictions and has them kenneled with Pat Ryan.
The Dilston trainer was recommended to Abela by Sydney trainer Peter Lagogiane who got Million Dollar Chase winner Handsome Prince from Ryan.
Assistant trainer Brennan Ryan said Zevatron and Aston Pilsner had both done well since arriving in the state almost three weeks ago.
"They've settled in like they've been here all their lives and had no trouble fitting in to our routine," Ryan said.
"They'll both be staying for the Hobart Thousand series and will probably trial on the Elwick track this weekend."
The Devonport Chase final carries a total of $35,700 in prizemoney and the series is worth $60,000 including the heats.
Bet365 market - 3.50 Zevatron, Wynburn Sheean; 5.50 Siberia, Sprint Gordon, Run And Carry (res); 6.50 Highland Chief; 8.50 Kintyre; 15.00 Aston Pilsner; 31.00 Gypsies Luck, Mr Camacho (res).
TOP PACERS PROMISE PLENTY OF ACTION
Ignatius set the scene for some quality harness racing over the next two months with a strong win in the Free-For-All in Hobart on Sunday night.
He raced outside Ryley Major before scoring by 2m in a 1:58 mile-rate with the last 800m run in a slick 55.9 seconds.
Trainer Todd Rattray was suitably impressed.
"He went terrific - it was a strong last half mile, and he ran through the line well," Rattray told the Tasracing web site.
"He has pulled up well and hasn't stopped running around in his paddock this morning."
While Ignatius was impressive, Ryley Major was first-up for almost three months and is certain to be improved.
Third placegetter Call Me Hector is much better when he leads and fourth placegetter The Shallows didn't have the race run to suit.
There should be some more good clashes ahead.