Longford trainer John Blacker had a great day at the office at Devonport last Sunday, training half the winners on the eight-event card.
He combined with leading hoop Craig Newitt for the first three of those wins, kicking off with Settler’s Stone, who came from the rear for a dominant 3¾-length win in the day’s opener, a benchmark 80 handicap over 1880 metres.
It was the Savoire Vivre gelding’s first win since March 2015 but he’s been a good money-spinner for connections with placings in the Roy Higgins Quality and the Mornington, Devonport and Terang cups in the interim.
The second win for Newitt and Blacker came via progressive juvenile Argyle Beach, who came from worse than midfield for a dominant 2¾-length win in the two-year-old maiden plate over 1150 metres.
Blacker has a high opinion of the Purrealist gelding, who will now head for a spell before being targeted at the state’s better three-year-old races next season.
Trainer and jockey went on to take the Class 1 handicap, also over 1150 metres, with Appraise. The Needs Further gelding enjoyed a box-seat trail then, when leader Geegees Rock Opera shifted off the fence on straightening, Newitt was able to drive his charge through the gap before securing a narrow victory.
Blacker combined with Siggy Carr for his final win, with Al Cosmic Gift leading throughout in the benchmark 64 handicap over 1650 metres.
The win gave Carr her third successive double at Devonport as she was also successful on the Stuart Gandy-trained Gee Gee Redhead.
That two-year-old filly from go to whoa in the open-age maiden plate over 900 metres.