A long-term plan came to fruition when rising star Durazzo took last Friday night’s listed $150,000 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Launceston.
Trainer Barry Campbell had hoped to qualify the then lightly raced Needs Further gelding for last season’s edition of the state’s premier sprint but he was unable to gain a berth.
Fast forward 12 months and after wins in last summer’s local features the Carpet Charge and Hellova Street Stakes, Campbell’s charge had second-top weight of 59kg (4.5kg more than last season’s winner, Geegees Gemstone) and started the short-priced favourite at $1.80.
After Durazzo enjoyed a nice trail just off the speed under Kelvin Sanderson the result was never really in doubt as he quickly reeled in leader Tsunami Sam in the home straight before scoring a three-quarter length win over the fast-finishing Just Cruisin’.
Durazzo will head on a weight-for-age path through the summer months and the wins should keep coming, as the horses he gave weight to and beat in the Newmarket will now have to meet him on level terms.
The win gave Campbell a double at the meeting as he was earlier successful with former Tassie three-year-old of the year Alpine Wolf’s younger brother Wolf Junior, who cleared maiden ranks over 1100 metres first up off a break under Craig Newitt.
The in-form trainer buttered up with another double at the same track on Wednesday night headed by five-year-old debutant Beneficiary, who crossed from the outside alley under Chloe Wells before booting clear for a dominant five-length win in the maiden plate over 1400 metres.
Campbell completed his double with progressive mare Night Invader, who handled her first test over a staying trip in fine style, charging home from the back under Daniel Ganderton to nail race leader Don’t Give Up right on the line in the benchmark 68 handicap over 2100 metres.
Last Friday night’s other feature, the $125,000 3YO Cup, was taken in scintillating fashion by the Stuart Gandy-trained Crack The Shutters.
The daughter of Alpine Eagle camped one-out, one-back under Anthony Darmanin in the small but classy five-horse field, looming large on straightening and letting down with a sharp turn of foot to score by 1¾ lengths over last season’s local juvenile of the year, Sanniya.
Gandy’s charge ran the 1200 metres in a slick 1:09:39 — almost a second faster than Durazzo ran later in the program — and being by Alpine Eagle she should only get better as she steps up in distance.