Promising mare Press For Boom stamped herself as a leading contender for upcoming Tasmanian Group 3 fillies-and-mares features the Mystic Journey and Vamos Stakes with a brilliant first-up win in the $50,000 Winzenberg Trophy at Hobart last Sunday.
The John Blacker-trained daughter of Press Statement enjoyed a box-seat trail from the inside gate under Erica Byrne Burke behind race leader Tsunami Sam, gaining an inside split early in the straight and surging to the front before holding off a late challenge from 2024 TTC Newmarket winner Geegees Gemstone.
The sparingly raced five-year-old mare has now won six of eight appearances, missing a place only once.
Earlier in the day Brighton trainer Stuart Gandy was on fire, taking the first three events. He kicked off with the heavily backed Southern Auroras ($6-$2.80), who pressed forward from the outside gate under Codi Jordan to sit outside the leader before booting clear for a dominant 3¾-length maiden win over 1200 metres.
Gandy made it a running double with former Victorian filly Fierce ’N Fabulous, who camped just off the pace under Anthony Darmanin before taking her 1400-metre maiden at just her third local outing.
The daughter of Fierce Impact had found the line well over 1100 and 1200m at her first two Tasmanian runs and was able to settle closer to the speed up in trip last Sunday.
Gandy and Darmanin again teamed up to take the Class 1 handicap over the same trip with progressive Alpine Eagle gelding The Trinem who let down strongly from midfield to nail South Georgia right on the line.
The lightly raced four-year-old now has two wins and four minor placing from seven appearances.
Darmanin notched a treble of his own at the meeting, taking the last event on the program, a Class 4 handicap over 1200 metres, on Brendan McShane’s promising charge Skin In The Game, who faced the breeze before proving too strong in the drive to the line.
The five-year-old Turffontein gelding has now won five from seven and is yet to miss the quinella.
McShane hopes he can measure up to the top level locally, with the Group 3 Thomas Lyons Stakes on Hobart Cup day looming as a likely target.