Training honours were shared at the first night meeting of the season at Launceston on Wednesday, with a double apiece to Imogen Miller and Glenn Stevenson.
Miller’s first success came via the sparingly raced Lin Thizzy, who sat just off the leaders under Erica Byrne Burke before clearing maiden ranks over 1100m at her third start.
The daughter of Wordsmith placed behind her stablemate Alfarino when resuming at Hobart on August 18. She defied a noted drift in betting on Wednesday night ($3.80-$6.50).
Despite the form behind him having been enhanced, Alfarino was also unwanted by punters at Launceston, easing from $3.90 to $6.50 before making it back-to-back wins in the Class 1 handicap over the same route after enjoying a box-seat trail under Luke Dempsey.
The younger half-brother to multiple stakes-placed stablemate Alvarinho appears to have a bright future and should continue to progress through the grades.
Miller wasn’t at the meeting as she was in Melbourne with Fighting Floyd, who ran a cracking race to finish fourth at $101 in a benchmark 70 handicap over 1500 metres on the Caulfield Heath.
The bold performance followed on from that of stablemate Blonde Star, who was a tad unlucky not to place at $81 in the Ronald McDonald House Vic/Tas Trophy (1700m) at Flemington last Saturday. Held up at a key stage, the Hobart Cup-winning mare ran on for a 2.85-length fourth.
Stevenson’s first win at Launnie came courtesy of an excellent ride from Daniel Ganderton on the promising Alpine Fury in the Class 2 handicap over 1400 metres.
The gelded son of Alpine Eagle box-seated in the early stages but was shuffled back as runs were made out wide. However, Ganderton was patient and when a gap appeared the lightly raced five-year-old gelding quickly put paid to his rivals.
Stevenson completed his double with former Grahame Begg representative Outsidethesquare, who finished off hard from midfield under Kirra-Lee Lane in the maiden/Class 1 plate over 1600 metres at her local debut to nail pacemaker Little El in the concluding stages.