The Chris Crook & Imogen Miller-trained improver Tshahitsi broke through for his maiden stakes victory overnight at Launceston Racecourse continuing his gun form at the track in the Tasmanian Newmarket Handicap 2016.
iral (inside pictured at Flemington) looked to be after more distance when third in the 2016 Tasmanian Newmarket Handicap this week at Launceston. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
A lightly-raced five-year-old son of Clangalang, the gelding lined-up for his sixth start at the course in Wednesday evening’s $100,000 Listed Wordsmith Newmarket Handicap (1200m) posting his fourth win.
Jumping a $12.40 shot in betting, Tshahitsi enjoyed a narrow upset over the Stuart Gandy-trained Gee Gee Red Prince ($8.30) and Barry Campbell’s multiple stakes champion iral ($4.80) to mark himself as a top sprinter to watch over the coming weeks.
Only a length separated the first four over the line in the early Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival black-type with the Scott Brunton-trained favourite Lord Da Vinci ($3.60) fourth past the post in the blanket finish.
Jockey Damien Thornton had his first ride on Tshahitsi in the Newmarket Handicap and guided the horse to his eight career win at start number 15 after coming from the back of the field to put himself into a winning position by the turn.
“My horse was travelling great turning for home but there was nowhere to go outside so I had to hope the runs would come,” Thornton told Tas Racing post-win.
“I opted to follow the rail and then leader Gee Gee Red Prince kicked I thought we were a chance then when he saw daylight close to home he horse just attacked the line. It was a very gutsy win.”
It was an improved effort on his last start fourth behind Hellova Street over 1100m at Hobart on Melbourne Cup Day.
Consistent Wordsmith four-year-old Gee Gee Red Prince was brave in defeat and looks set for another big campaign, while $600,000 earner iral will improve getting out over 1400m.
The beaten favourite Lord Da Vinic also lost few irers in his maiden stakes run.
Tshahitsi’s co-trainer Miller was thrilled with the Newmarket Handicap result but was unsure where to next for the up-and-comer.
“We have always had a good opinion of this horse but we had to be patient and now he appears to have grown into himself and we expected him to do what he did tonight,” Miller said.
“We knew we were throwing him in at the deep end but we have been proven right by putting him in the race.
“We aren’t quite sure where we go from here but he’s won a Newmarket Handicap and it is one of the toughest sprint races to win in this state.”
Possible next-up options include the weight-for-age Listed Conquering Stakes (1400m) back at the track over more distance on December 7 or Hobart’s $100,000 Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes (1400m) in early February, 2017.
For the hottest betting odds and options on the Tasmanian Summer Carnival features head to Ladbrokes.com.au now – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
2016 Tasmanian Newmarket Handicap Results
Launceston Race 6 – 16/11/2016
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | TSHAHITSI | Chris Crook & Imogen Miller | Damien Thornton | – | 3 | 54kg | $12.40 |
| 2 | 10 | GEE GEE RED PRINCE | Stuart Gandy | Daniel Ganderton | 0.4L | 1 | 54kg | $8.30 |
| 3 | 2 | IRAL | Barry Campbell | Brendon McCoull | 0.6L | 10 | 59.5kg | $4.80 |
| 4 | 7 | LORD DA VINCI | Scott Brunton | David Pires | 1L | 12 | 54kg | $3.60F |
| 5 | 11 | POWERCHARGED | John Blacker | Raquel Clark (a) | 2L | 2 | 54kg | $53 |
| 6 | 3 | HELLOVA STREET | Scott Brunton | Dean Holland | 2.1L | 11 | 58.5kg | $9.90 |
| 7 | 6 | GEEGEES GOLDENGIRL | Stuart Gandy | Ms Georgie Catania | 2.2L | 5 | 54kg | $57 |
| 8 | 8 | ERIN’S ELEMENT | John Blacker | Jason Benbow | 2.5L | 4 | 54kg | $42.20 |
| 9 | 14 | GEE GEES TOP NOTCH | Leon, Dean & Trent Wells | Ms Sigrid Carr | 2.6L | 9 | 54kg | $25.90 |
| 10 | 5 | GEEGEES DOUBLEJAY | Stuart Gandy | Craig Newitt | 3.4L | 6 | 56kg | $8.40 |
| 11 | 12 | SNIPPETEE BEE | Charlie Goggin & Luella Meaburn | Ismail Toker | 4.2L | 14 | 54kg | $196 |
| 12 | 9 | JERILDERIE LETTER | Adam Trinder | Anthony Darmanin | 6L | 13 | 54kg | $6.60 |
| 13 | 1 | GEEGEES BLACKFLASH | Leon, Dean & Trent Wells | Troy Baker | 6.4L | 7 | 61kg | $63 |
| 14 | 4 | UP CUPS | David Brunton | Ms Stephanie Thornton (a) | 6.5L | 8 | 57kg | $99.80 |
| – | 17e | STEP THE PEDAL | Scott Brunton | Ms Stephanie Thornton (a) | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 16e | PRIVATE CURRENCY | Angela Brakey | Victor Wong (a) | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 15e | VANDERMEER | Alana Fulton | – | – | 0 | – | – |
