Jackson Radley appears to have sealed this season’s Tasmanian apprentices premiership after outriding his country claim with a brace of wins at Devonport last Sunday.
Both victors were prepared by his master, John Blacker, starting with roughie Our Pepmenartie, who cleared maiden ranks over 1009 metres at $21.
The gelded son of Stratosphere hadn’t been disgraced holding position behind dominant all-the-way victor Mazzini on debut and finished off strongly from midfield to score at his second attempt.
Radley and Blacker’s second win came via track specialist Alpine Blast, who also came from midfield to score comfortably in the benchmark 60 handicap over 1350 metres.
The Alpine Eagle gelding has now won eight of 34 appearances on the Devonport synthetic and placed on another six occasions.
Radley has now ridden 49 winners for the season, six clear of Lauryn Bingley, and with just two Hobart meetings remaining for the season looks to have the title in the bag.
Later on the Devonport card, Sheffield trainer Rowan Hamer blew most punters out of the quaddie with a longshot running double in the final two events.
His first success came courtesy of a gun ride from 2kg claimer Christopher Pang, who settled worse than midfield on Ring Of Honour ($15-$31) before gaining inside splits in the home straight to prevail narrowly over much more fancied rivals Cornelian Bay and Warica in the benchmark 68 handicap over 1150 metres.
The win completed a double for Pang as he’d earlier taken the Class 4 handicap over 1350 metres on Yassy Nishitani’s promising charge Garcon D’espoir, who remains unbeaten from two runs this campaign.
Hamer completed his double with the enigmatic Mightymaxi ($21), who scored a tough on-pace win in the benchmark 64 handicap over 1880 metres with apprentice Jabez Johnstone aboard.
The Preferment gelding had scored in similar fashion at $26 over 1650 metres at the same track three starts earlier but had disappointed on turf at Hobart in between those successes.