Victorian apprentice Sam Kennedy was the standout performer at Hobart on Wednesday, booting home a trio of victors in consecutive races.
She opened her account aboard the Paul Hill-trained Coastal Strike, who faced the breeze before holding out the late charge of Kakia, who hit the line hard from the back in the Class 5 handicap over 1400 metres.
It was a deserved win for the Palentino gelding, who had placed at three of his four previous runs this time in.
The 1.5kg claimer next combined with Brendan McShane, whose sparingly raced four-year-old Vinraam came from worse than midfield for a narrow but impressive maiden win over the same trip at just his fourth appearance.
Kennedy completed her treble on John Keys’s in-form galloper Rubbleonthedouble, who proved too strong despite overracing in the Vale Nigel Schuuring Open Handicap over 1600 metres.
Keys has the former Siggy Carr representative in career-best form. The gelded son of Toorak Toff has now won three of his four outings this time in.
That race was named in honour of the trainer and clerk of the course, who died suddenly at just 48 late last week.
Keep an eye on Asva
Glenn Stevenson’s Devonport and Launceston Cup winner of last season, Asva, takes the next step in his Geelong Cup preparation when he tackles the EDSA Group Handicap over 1500 metres at Sandown on Saturday.
The gelded son of Capitalist was excellent first up, at his sole run for Patrick Kearney, finishing right on the heels of short-priced favourite Sass Appeal over 1410m at Flemington.
The added 90 metres of this weekend’s assignment suits and he’s nicely in at the weights after the 2kg claim for Ryan Houston.