Stable star Geegees Mistruth pulled up with a respiratory issue after finishing unplaced in last week’s Group 3 Cockram Stakes, but Brighton trainer Stuart Gandy will have another shot at a Victorian feature this weekend with his promising filly Zany Girl.
Zany Girl tackles the $175,000 listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes over 1200 metres at The Valley, where she’s drawn nicely in gate six and will have the services of champion hoop Craig Williams.
The daughter of Needs Further was super-impressive overcoming a tardy getaway to defeat older rivals over 1000 metres at Hobart fresh, will only be improved and should relish the added 200 metres of Saturday’s assignment.
Watch this Warrior
Jessie Bazan may have a local cups contender on her hands in recent stable acquisition Island Warrior.
The daughter of Frosted impressed taking the feature event on last Sunday’s Hobart card, the $45,000 Winning Edge Presentations Open Handicap (2040m), beating last season’s Launceston Cup winner, Distrustful Award, and dual Devonport Cup winner Ashy Boy.
She settled just off the speed under 2kg claimer Jabez Johnstone before wearing down pacemaker Dustland Fairytale in the drive to the line.
Island Warrior was previously prepared by John Blacker, for whom she won the 3YO Cup (1200m) of 2023. Although she’d never been tried beyond 1600 metres until Sunday she had always given the impression that staying may be her caper.
She’s also bred to get a trip as she’s a half-sister to Blacker’s 2021 Launceston Cup winner Glass Warrior.
A couple for Keys, Kennedy
John Keys took the training honours at Hobart, bookending the meeting.
His first success came via the progressive Furneaux, who handled a seven-day back up and drop in trip with aplomb, leading throughout under Anthony Darmanin in the benchmark 76 handicap over 1200 metres.
Keys completed his double with another former Blacker rep, Restricted Access, who made a winning debut for the new yard leading from go to whoa over the same route in Class 2 company with Victorian three-kilo claimer Sam Kennedy in the saddle.
The win gave the visiting apprentice a double as she’d earlier taken the 1600-metre maiden plate aboard the Bradley Franklin-trained Purr Sefanee.