Full brothers Mazzini and Durazzo gave in-form trainer Barry Campbell both features at Launceston on Wednesday night, the $50,000 3YO Trophy and the $125,000 listed Conquering Stakes, both over 1400 metres.
On a track favouring on-pacers Mazzini jumped straight to the front under Kelvin Sanderson and the result was never really in doubt, the sparingly raced Needs Further gelding giving his rivals the slip on straightening before cruising to a 2½-length win over 3YO Cup winner and short-priced favourite Crack The Shutters.
Success wasn’t as simple for Campbell’s stable star Durazzo, who found himself strung up behind the leaders needing clear air at the top of the straight.
Lightly raced five-year-old Just Cruisin’ had an unimpeded run and looked likely to cause an upset with 200 metres to go, but Sanderson (known as the Ice Man) kept his cool and gained a narrow split inside race leader First Accused.
Durazzo then quickly regained momentum and surged late to prevail narrowly.
Both of Campbell’s gallopers are out of his former smart sprinting mare Arenzano, who won eight of 19 appearances including the 2012 3YO Cup.
Amazing the two brothers ran the 1400-metre journey in the exact same time — 1:23.09.
Otherwise Glenn Stevenson and Codi Jordan dominated the meeting, combining for four wins.
They kicked off with former top local mare Still A Star’s half-brother Megalita, who cleared maiden ranks over 1200 metres at his second appearance, despite facing the breeze throughout.
Their second success came via ex-Victorian mare Eaglefurther who was untroubled leading throughout in the Class 1 handicap over 1600 metres.
Promising four-year-old Blameitontheboogie provided Stevenson and Jordan with a treble, proving too strong after stalking the leader in the Class 2 handicap over 1100 metres.
The gelded son of Sooboog has now won three of five starts and placed on the other two occasions.
Another ex-Victorian, The Longest Yard, completed the duo’s quartet of victors, crossing from the outside alley to lead throughout in the benchmark 68 handicap over 1600 metres.
The former Matthew Brown rep has now won five of nine appearances since transferring to Stevenson’s yard.