3 minute read

It was an emotional Mark Ganderton after his horse Glory Mission ($2.50) proved too good in the $35,000 4YO Hcp (1200m) in Launceston on Friday night, scoring a narrow but impressive win over Aruma ($7.50) and Perola ($16).

Glory Mission has raced six times for three wins and two placings and, according to the trainer, is lucky to be racing at all.

"You've got no idea the troubles we've had with him; I'm so proud of him; he's spent three-quarters of his life a cripple; he's just awesome," Mark Ganderton said.

"I'm just so proud of my team, so proud of that horse. A lot of horses can be talented, but he's got ticker to come here with his problems and do what he does against a top field. It was only small, but there will be some good gallopers to come out of that race."

The disappointment of the race was the odds on favourite Rubble 'N' Fudd ($1.90), who was the first horse beaten, finishing fourth and last.

Bine was back to her best in the 1100m BM68 Hcp, scoring impressively in a small field.

The mare has now won four of her 14 starts with five placings and $130,000 in prize money.

Rider Erica Byrne Burke allowed Bine ($2.35) to sit second behind tearaway leader Etosha, but approaching the turn, Byrne Burke allowed Bine to eat into the margin, and it was obvious a long way from home that Bine was the one to beat.

"They're always going to go quickly with Etosha leading, but on the corner, she just picked up underneath me, and it's really good to get the win," Byrne Burke said.

The second horse home was Golden Meadow ($3.90), with Etosha ($5.50) hanging on to run third.

John Blacker is unsure why his 7YO mare Miss Pebbles is racing in such great form, saying he hasn't done anything different with her.

Miss Pebbles ($11) took 41 starts to score her first win but just four more runs to win her second. Ridden by Hayley McCarthy, Miss Pebbles came from midfield to win the 1600m BM60, downing Lily Luella ($3.80) with Big John ($10) third.

"She went to Longford, got beaten a whisker., and the horse that won that race won again on Wednesday, (I've got ) no idea why she's going good, but she's going good," Blacker said.

That was the first leg of a winning double for jockey Hayley McCarthy; her second winner was the well-supported Liberty Rae, who sprinted quickly when clear to down Sandual ($5) and Romanesco Fresco ($7) in the 1200m BM60 Hcp.

Liberty Rae ($4) was always in a handy position, and when McCarthy eased her to the outside at the top of the straight, she put the race beyond doubt in a matter of strides.

"The horse can certainly gallop, it's just getting her right for the right race," McCarthy said.

"I was a little bit worried tonight getting into clear going early, but she went on with the job really nicely.

Pepparoni ($13) caused a minor upset when she came from midfield to win the 1200m Class 1 Hcp, racing away from Zuni ($7.50) with the heavily backed Material Madam ($6 – $3.50) running on fairly into third.

With Lauryn Bingley able to pinch runs along the rails before getting to the outside of the leaders, Pepparoni scored her second win at start 12.

Pepparoni hadn't raced since June when she finished down the track over 1880m at Devonport.