The locals have had everything go their way over the carnival however it was the interstate gallopers that dominated the finish of Wednesday’s $250,000 Group III Ladbrokes Launceston Cup (2400m).
Grabbling the lion’s share of the spoils was Billy Egan on the Patrick Payne-trained gelding Home By Midnight who improved on his Hobart Cup third to defeat the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Snitzel gelding Taikomochi by two and a quarter lengths with the Richard Laming-trained Dogmatic, another son of Domesday, a further two and a half lengths back in third.
It was the first win at his 12th start in Australia for the former New Zealander who crossed the Tasman after placing in the Group 1 Auckland Cup and Group II Avondale Cup 12 months ago.
Joe O’Neill was on track to represent the Payne stable.
“Full credit to Patrick, he had the horse over here in superb nick,” O’Neill said.
“I think the rain this morning helped us, and it was a superb ride by Billy.
“Patrick has got a magnificent group of people who work with him, it’s a very professional stable. Tahlia Hope has been down here with the horse and has done a fantastic job.”
Purchased by Lisa Latta Racing Stables for $165,000 out of The Oaks Stud draft at the 2014 NZB Select Yearling Sale at Karaka, Home By Midnight advances his record to 10 wins, 11 seconds and 7 thirds from 54 starts with earnings of $859,292.
He is the best of three winners from as many named foals out of the Fastnet Rock mare Fastnet Lady who was an $82,500 purchase at the 2009 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
Winner of the Group II Waikato Gold Cup in 2017, Home By Midnight is one of 18 stakes-winners for Aquis Farm’s prolific Domesday who stood his 14th season in 2019 at a fee of $9,900.
The progressive 3yo Needs Further filly Deroche did the right thing by the sponsors and her breeder and part-owner Armidale Stud with a dominant performance in the Group III Vamos Stakes (1400m).
Taking on a field of seasoned mares, the flashy filly travelled sweetly outside the leader before Craig Newitt put his foot to the floor on the turn and put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
She was under little more than a hand ride to defeat Miss Mandito (Zacinto) by a length with Jentico (Written Tycoon) back in third.
It has been a profitable four days for the Leanne Gaffney-trained chestnut who won the Magic Millions 3yo Classic (1400m) on Sunday.
“She makes it look easy and the trainer and staff around her look good,” Gaffney said.
“We wanted to give her the run (on Sunday) because she hadn’t been over 1400 metres and she would have had a gallop on the Saturday. She did well, ate up, was in good condition so why not run.
“It was a beautiful ride by Craig. She is going to the paddock for a well-deserved spell.”
Craig Newitt said the daughter of Needs Further is well up to stakes standard on the mainland.
“I have no doubt that was her best win today. I have said for a long-time she is up to black-type in Melbourne,” Newitt said.
“If she goes to the paddock now and makes the same progression from three to four as she did from two to three, I can’t see why she won’t win a really good race.”
A $61,000 purchase from Armidale Stud at last year's Tasmanian Yearling Sale, the Star Thoroughbred colour-bearer advances her record to 9 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 13 starts with earnings of $363,639.
Deroche is the best of three winners from four to race out of the stakes-placed Tough Speed mare Buzzing Along who has a 2yo Trust In The Gust filly named Kippoui Hime, a yearling colt by Wordsmith, a Shooting To Win colt foal and was bred back to Needs Further last spring.
Mandela Effect denied his 9yo stablemate Hellova Street a fourth consecutive win in the Listed Mowbray Stakes.
Given the run of the race by Craig Newitt, Mandel Effect (Turffontein) scored a hard-fought head win over the courageous Hellova Street (Helike) with Zatacla a half-length back in third.
The Scott Brunton pair were coming off a similar result in the Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes at Hobart on February 9.
Mandela Effect has come away with the goods and that is great. That will be his last run this prep,” Brunton said.
“He is a horse on the way up and when he gets over 2000 metres he will be better again.
“It was disappointing for Hellova Street, you fall in love with horses like him.
A 5yo gelded son of Turffontein, Mandela Affect advances his record to 12 wins and 6 seconds from 23 starts with earnings of $547,939.
An $18,000 purchase by his trainer out of the Motree Thoroughbreds draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, Mandela Effect had a full-sister make $80,000 at the recent Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
