John Blacker and Craig Newitt dominated the final Tasmanian meeting of the season at Hobart last Sunday with each notching four winners.
Newitt set the tone in the day’s opener, a two-year-old handicap over 1200 metres, on the Liandra Gray-trained Go Jeanie.
Despite facing the breeze, the Frosted filly had plenty on her rivals, booting clear to score by 2¾ lengths, her second win from four appearances.
“Froggy” combined with Blacker for his other three wins, kicking off with Southern Wind in the benchmark 70 handicap over 2200 metres.
The Trust In A Gust gelding enjoyed a trail in midfield before being shuffled back near last approaching the home turn.
However, once balanced up in the straight Newitt took his mount to the outside and he let down strongly to defeat stablemate Page and the unlucky Captain Morgan, who only found clear air late.
Blacker also provided the quinella in the following event, a three-year-old handicap over 1200 metres, with promising youngsters Press For Boom and Stardarmus.
Both enjoyed nice trails just off the speed but Stardarmus couldn’t match Press For Boom’s sharp turn of foot, with the filly remaining unbeaten after four starts.
Newitt’s final win came via another of Blacker’s promising three-year-olds, Perola, who came from worse than midfield for a last-stride win in the Class 2 handicap over 1400 metres.
The daughter of Needs Further has now won three of 10 appearances and gives the impression that she will be better suited over longer distances later in her career. As she’s a half-sister to 2015 Launceston Cup winner Genuine Lad, that may well be the case.
Blacker rounded out his four-win haul with another backmarker, Bellasario, who came from a clear last with a well timed run under Blacker’s former apprentice Georgie Catania in the benchmark 60 handicap over 1200 metres.
The daughter of Alpine Eagle failed to feature at her most recent outing but had placed at five of her six previous runs so it was a much deserved third career win.