Tasmanian racing returned on Wednesday to the Devonport synthetic, where honours were shared by local trainer Leanne Gaffney and apprentice Chelsea Baker, each notching a double.
Gaffney bookended the meeting, kicking off with former Victorian Bluff Point, who led throughout under Codi Jordan to clear maiden ranks over 1009 metres at her local debut.
The former Lloyd Kennewell/Lucy Yeomans representative was well found by punters, firming from $3 to start the $2.30 favourite, and the result was never in doubt with the daughter of Capitalist cruising to a comfortable two-length win.
Gaffney completed her double with Bankrollbenny, who enjoyed a nice trail just off the speed under Craig Newitt before proving too strong in the drive to the line in the last, a benchmark 60 handicap over 1350 metres.
Baker opened her account on the John Blacker-trained Champagne Cinders, who led and was never seriously challenged in the benchmark 60 handicap over 1009 metres.
The promising apprentice then made it a running double aboard the Kelvin Hamilton-prepared Moorboozie, who settled worse than midfield before getting to the outside on the home turn and finishing off strongly to take the benchmark 64 handicap over 1880 metres.
Gaz goes on a high
Tasmanian Hall of Fame trainer Gary White finished his illustrious career in the best possible way at Hobart last Sunday with the last runner he saddled up, Better Than Banksy, taking the final event on the card, a benchmark 60 handicap over 1100 metres.
Best known as a backmarker, the gelded son of Invader had to be ridden upside down after the saddle slipped in the early stages, but once challenged White’s charge kept finding under the urgings of 3kg claimer Jackson Radley to prevail by the barest of margins.
The win bookended White’s career as he was also successful with his first runner, back in 1980.