The state’s leading hoop, Erica Byrne Burke, was in fine form at Devonport last Sunday with a trio of victors.
She set the tone in the day’s opener, a maiden/Class 1 plate, aboard the Adam Trinder-trained Respite who enjoyed a box-seat trail before holding off the fast-finishing Regal Hunter at her first try over 1650 metres.
It was a deserved win for the daughter of Alpine Eagle, who had just been outgunned over 1350 metres at her two previous outings.
Byrne Burke completed an early double on the Jessie Bazan-prepared Colonel Bogey, who also enjoyed a gun trail before notching an overdue maiden win over 1150 metres.
The Needs Further gelding had placed at four of his seven previous attempts and hasn’t finished worse than fifth in his career.
Byrne Burke again combined with her former master Trinder to complete her treble aboard Kireina Marubrah, who led throughout in the benchmark 64 handicap over 1350 metres.
The daughter of Magnus had been plain at her first two runs this prep but the addition of a blindfold enabled her to jump better and she dug deep to hold off Tuskegee, who surged late.
Trent Wells and Kelvin Sanderson also had a good day at the office, combining for a running double led off by the heavily backed It’s Jagger Time ($2.80-$2.05), who was able to find a slot in midfield from the outside gate before proving too strong in the Class 4 handicap over 1650 metres.
They completed their brace with promising three-year-old Gladding, who scored a tough on-pace win in the Class 1 handicap over 1150 metres.
Maiden city treble for Jacko
Tasmanian apprentice Jackson Radley notched his first metropolitan treble in Victoria at Caulfield last Saturday, kicking off with the Ben, Will and J.D. Hayes-prepared Luna Cat, who settled handy before scoring comfortably in a benchmark 84 fillies-and-mares handicap over 1100 metres.
He next combined with Nick Ryan to take the benchmark 74 handicap over 2000 metres with Belle Savoir, who camped just off the speed before scoring at juicy odds ($20).
Radley’s masters, the Hayes brothers, provided his final victor with classy mare Coeur Volante finishing off hard from midfield to take the Quayclean Handicap over 1400 metres.
The multiple stakes-winning daughter of Proisir tailed them in at both runs last spring but now appears back to something like her best, having now strung wins together after placing at huge odds in the listed Bel Esprit fresh.