Hobart feature racing form, odds and free tips, Friday February 3
HOBART hosts two major races this Friday with the Listed Tasmanian Derby for three-year-olds and the Group 3 Bow Mistress Trophy.
The Bow Mistress has attracted a cracking field for the $125,000 prize, which includes the likes of Victorians Lyuba, Ocean Embers and Deja Blue.
There are plenty of local hopes engaged in both races, but the northerners are bringing the heavy artillery and we have form, odds and tips to make finding the winner easier.
Group 3 Bow Mistress Trophy field and tips
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Unfortunately the numbers have dropped away for this race, but regardless the quality is still apparent and bookmakers are favouring the consistent Lyuba.
The Darren Weir-trained four-year-old has amassed a stellar career which includes nine starts for five wins and three placings. The Turffontein mare enters this race after back-to-back placings at Caulfield and it arguably could have won both starts.
With apprentice Ben Allen in the saddle, Lyuba wasn’t able to get clear running room until late in the race, but senior rider Brad Rawiller takes over the riding duties on Friday which should help its cause.
It won its two starts prior in good fashion with a win at Moonee Valley, followed up by a narrow victory at Flemington where it drove hard late. Those wins hold it in good stead for this and the slight rise in distance will give it enough time to work through its gears and hit the line hard.
CrownBet is offering $2.75 for Lyuba, which is short in the market, but its form warrants plenty of respect.
I Love It is fresh up for trainer John Salanitri after two moderate starts in Melbourne last campaign. The six-year-old mare has won three from eight when fresh and it will find it much easier than its spring assignments.
The daughter of I Love It finished ninth in the Alinghi Stakes after travelling three-wide throughout and it wasn’t far behind them in the Begonia Belle behind the talented Sheidel.
It has won and placed on this track which is a big bonus, but punters will be taking I Love It at $2.80 on trust alone.
Ocean Embers is an interesting runner for Shea Eden and punters should forgive its most recent effort. The four-year-old won back-to-back races in August, which included a win in the Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.
It ran on late behind Star Turn in the Schillaci Stakes before disappointing at Flemington. Eden then travelled the mare to Eagle Farm where it had no luck behind Kinshachi and punters should overlook that run.
There’s doubting the slick turn-of-foot that Ocean Embers possesses and the $3 at Bet365 is a fair price.
The best of the Tasmanian runners is Trot On Candy which has won its last two. The Goggin/Meaburn-trained mare is a four-time winner on this track and it prefers running at this sprinting distance.
It scored an easy 2.5-length win at Hobart last start and the slight drop in weight should help. It has been specked at $15, but it would need to produce a career-best performance to feature in this.
Bow Mistress tip: Lyuba to win ($2.75) at CrownBet.com.au
2017 Tasmanian Derby market and tips
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Matamanoa is a winner of two from six starts for trainer Patrick Payne. The three-year-old gelding won narrowly two starts back before enduring a tough run at Moonee Valley last start.
It was able to hang tough and run fourth behind Wheal Leisure, which was a credible effort and the rise up in distance to 2200m should be ideal.
It will find it tough to overthrow the favourite, but consider as an each way option at $8.50 for the win and $2 for the place.
Northwest Passage has a mortgage on this field at odds of $1.30 with Luxbet.com. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained gelding has won three from four starts, which included the Hobart Guineas by a massive 7.5 lengths.
The well-bred gelding by So You Think won its first two races in Sydney by solid margins before finishing third at Randwick behind Black And Gold. It then tried its hand in Tasmania where it proved far too classy at odds of $2.70.
There doesn’t look to be any major opposition in this field and although it’s tough to confidently back a $1.30 chance, it could add some extra value to racing multi-bets.
Shadow Prince is a handy place chance at $2 with WilliamHill.com.au. The Mick Price-trained gelding was a classy winner at Cranbourne two starts back before running fifth behind Northwest Passage last start. It will need to find over 10 lengths to bridge the gap, but Price won’t be running it for second.
The increase in distance should suit and it’s not without a place chance.
Tasmanian Derby tip: Northwest Passage to win