Former hoop turned trainer Yassy Nishitani celebrated the biggest win of his career when The Spirit Of Zero stormed home to take Tassie’s premier juvenile event, the listed $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m), at Launceston last Sunday.
Defying a drift in betting ($14-$17), the Needs Further gelding unleashed a strong turn of foot under Ismail Toker to nail race leader and favourite Needs Sugar in the concluding stages.
Nishitani’s charge was bred by his wife, Ayana, who also part-owns the gelding. The Spirit Of Zero has won his past two outings impressively after being narrowly denied on debut.
Canny Carr aids cups king
John Blacker has his team of stayers firing and he maintained his unbeaten run of feature cup success this season when Super Swoop took the $50,000 Sydeston Cup over 2100 metres.
Aided by a gun ride from Siggy Carr, the Casino Prince gelding was able to pinch inside runs after settling worse than midfield. He only had to go around the two leaders in the home straight then found just enough to hold out the fast-finishing Assaranca to earn ballot-free entry into the Launceston Cup.
Blacker will resist the temptation to back up his charge in this Sunday’s Hobart Cup but will be well represented in that feature with Longford, Devonport and Summer Cups winner Swoop Dog as well as Glass Warrior, who took the Brighton Cup before hitting the line hard from the rear in the Summer Cup.
Purple patch for Parish
Veteran hoop Dianne Parish doesn’t get a lot of opportunities these days but her followers have had plenty to cheer about in recent weeks.
At the previous Launceston meeting on January 27 she guided the Brendan McShane-prepared American Jewel to victory in a benchmark 62 handicap over 2100 metres at $151, and she followed up at her next race ride, in the opening event last Sunday, a maiden plate over 1200 metres, with $81 outsider Barmaid Girl.
The Team Wells-trained daughter of Toorak Toff improved sharply off her safely held Hobart debut to cross from a wide draw and score a tough, on-pace win.