Veteran trainers Graeme McCulloch and Barry Campbell shared the honours at Launceston on Wednesday night with a double apiece.
McCulloch opened his account with Halen, who camped just off the pace under Kelvin Sanderson before surging to the front on straightening and going on to score a comfortable 1½-length win in the Class 1 handicap over 1400 metres.
The Stratosphere gelding had always shown potential and was regarded highly enough to contest last season’s Tasmanian Guineas but didn’t break through until resuming on October 17, at his 16th start. He has now won two of three outings this time in and placed behind a pair of smart three-year-olds on the other occasion.
McCulloch completed his double with Stars In The Night, who led throughout in the benchmark 60 handicap over 1200 metres under 2kg claimer Jabez Johnstone.
It was just the fourth win from 48 appearances for the eight-year-old daughter of Cardinal Virtue but she’s placed on another 21 occasions and has been a great money-spinner for her connections, Wednesday night’s win taking her career earnings beyond $150,000.
Campbell’s first success came via the promising Earendel, who scored an impressive first-up win in the Class 4 handicap over 1400 metres.
The gelded son of Needs Further settled further back than anticipated and was still last on the home turn. He was ridden for luck by Chloe Wells and when a gap appeared midway down the home straight he surged late to nail The Longest Yard, who had looked set for victory after box-seating.
Earendel has now won five of seven, with his main target this campaign the Devonport Cup in early January.
Campbell made it a running double with Night Invader, who came from midfield under Daniel Ganderton to take the benchmark 60 handicap over 1600 metres.
The Invader mare has won three of five outings this time in and Campbell is keen to test her over a staying trip in the near future.
Veteran hoop Dianne Parish doesn’t get many opportunities these days but caused the upset of the night with a gun ride on the Trent Wells-trained Platinum Reggae ($21), who overcame traffic to take the Class 1 handicap over 1200 metres.
It was Parish’s first win since last December but she only had 19 rides in the interim.