The Imogen Miller-trained Blonde Star earnt a ballot exemption for next month’s Devonport Cup by taking Wednesday night’s feature at Launceston, a $45,000 open handicap over 1600 metres.
The daughter of Starcraft stuck on soundly after facing the breeze over 1390 metres when resuming at Hobart on November 23 and relished the rise to the mile second up, settling midfield under Erica Byrne Burke before starting a three-wide run at the 600-metre mark.
She loomed alongside race leader and short-priced favourite Earendel on the home turn before surging clear for a comfortable 1¾-length win.
The five-year-old mare is now two from two over the Launceston 1600 metres. She also scored at both tries over the Devonport Cup route (1880m) last time in.
Elsewhere on Wednesday night’s card, apprentice Jabez Johnstone kept up his hot form with a treble, kicking off with Sarah Cotton’s promising sprinter In The Ocean, who took the Class 6 handicap over 1100 metres first up off an eight-month break.
The Foxwedge gelding is building an imposing record over Wednesday night’s track and trip — eight starts for six wins and two minor placings.
Johnstone next combined with in-form trainer Graeme McCulloch to guide his speedy mare Stars In The Night to an all-the-way win in the benchmark 60 handicap over 1200 metres.
The daughter of Cardinal Virtue has now won two of her past three outings, with Johnstone aboard on each occasion.
The 1.5kg claimer completed his treble on John Blacker’s aptly named Launnie Nights, who enjoyed a box-seat trail before proving too strong in the Class 2 handicap over 1600 metres.
The gelded son of Pentire showed a welcome return to form when nailed late after leading over the same route a week earlier and went right on with it on the quick back-up to notch his first win in 14 months.