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The first Wednesday meeting of the night season belonged to trainer Glenn Stevenson, who prepared a winning treble.
A 7YO who hadn't won for more than 1200 days scored at his debut run for the Stevenson stable in the 1200m BM60 Hcp.
Altai Ranger ($3.60), fresh from a third placing at Tatura (Vic) on 14 October, finished powerfully to score from Stars In The Night ($7.50) with Starnote ($4.20) third.
"I had to go to plan B straight away. He didn't muster as much speed as the other horses, but he relaxed, and I thought I was going to pick them up before the home turn," winning rider Kelvin Sanderson said.
Stevenson made it a race-to-race double when Asva, thanks to a rail-hugging ride, dashed away in the concluding stages to win the 1400m Class 3 Hcp.
From barrier one, Asva ($5.50) trailed the leaders to the turn, then got an inside run to win by more than two lengths from Conundrum ($3.80), who was never better than three wide, with Monte Fleur ($13) a nose away third.
Stevenson's third winner of the night came when ex-Victorian Spring Bean ($2.30) scored his second Tasmanian win in the 2100m Maiden/Class One, downing Miss Vivace ($17) and Unnerving ($7).
Persistence pays off
She was a handful to get into the barriers, and she has been a handful to get to the races, but Unique Eagle ($6.50) showed she could be well above average with an impressive debut win in the 1100m Maiden.
Ridden by Anthony Darmanin, Unique Eagle was always with the leading group. Although she raced greenly throughout, she hit the front around the turn and proved too good for the well-supported favourite Uncle's Tip.
"She's a quirky mare, its taken a long time to get her to the races. She just had injury after injury after injury, and we thought this horse must be good because if they're no good, they don't injure themselves," a relieved trainer Bradley Franklin said post-race.
The 4YO dashed home her last 600m in 33.63 seconds; Uncle's Tip ($2.40) shouldn't be too far away from winning a race; they finished well clear of Sh'Bourne Glory ($4.80) third.
Closest finish saved for the last
The well-bred Fast Thinker ($5 – $2.80) took all the way down the home straight but had his nose in front when it counted right on the line to win the 1600m BM60 Hcp.
By So You Think x Up And Up, Fast Thinker put the writing on the wall with a solid second at the track five days prior.
"I was quite happy with the tempo that was set; he got a nice breather, he relaxed, and in the end, he was too tough for them," jockey Lauryn Bingley said.
An 8YO who loves wet tracks, Fast Thinker, a well-travelled galloper, has won six of his 45 starts.
Two in a row for the wolf
Lightly-raced 3YO Dancing Wolf did what very few horses can, and won a Class One immediately after scoring a Maiden victory.
After her success on 11 October over the same track and trip, Dancing Wolf made it back-to-back wins, scoring by almost two lengths after dashing to the front around the turn.
"We will go to the fillies' races now or something like the 3YO Cup, something like that. She deserves a crack," trainer Barry Campbell said.
Dancing Wolf ($3.10) was ridden by in-form apprentice Chloe Wells who is riding winners for fun at the moment. Red Fox ($10) came from last to finish second, with Sir Jag ($4.40) third.
