After an emotion-charged day in Hobart last Sunday, racing returns to the synthetic surface in Devonport on Wednesday for the first time since the Cup was held there in early January.
A seven-event card is scheduled, and with all recent racing in Hobart and Launceston on grass tracks, punters will have to do some homework to find horses that handle the tapeta surface.
This makes the 1350m BM68 an intriguing race, with most of the field quite accomplished on the synthetic.
Eight of the 10 horses entered for the race have won on the synthetic, Muscle Up has been placed at all three Devonport runs, and Geegee Misty has a placing from three starts at the track.
Alpine Blast has won five times at the track, three of those wins coming at the track and distance. Mywordis is another who will appreciate returning to Devonport, with five of seven career wins on the surface.
One trainer looking forward to the synthetic season is John Blacker.
"For some reason, our horses perform well down there, last year a couple of our horses that raced consistently down there ran first and second in the horse of the year, and I think we finished on top in the points awards for the track," Blacker said.
Blacker is currently the biggest trainer by numbers in Tasmania, with 55 in work at Longford and another 14 at his Brighton satellite stable.
"Brighton is going well, but it probably needs another month before it hits top shape.
"I just find it easier for us to have two bases. I can't work them all here at Longford; we've got a shortage of staff and trackwork riders. Down at Brighton, everyone seems to help each other, and the horses get worked fairly easily."
Blacker currently sits third on the trainer's premiership; he has by far had the most starters (510) for his 41 season winners.
"We are getting plenty of winners. Our strike rate is not too good, but our prize money for our horses is."
Blacker will take nine horses to Devonport and is confident he has some strong chances, particularly Champagne Cinders in the 1009m BM60.
"She drops back to the 1009m, where she's got gate speed. I think she will probably get a lead by herself, so Champagne Cinders, Alpine Affair (BM68, 1350m), and a roughie Nightclubbing in the second should all run well."
My best is Hewie in race five. Two runs in from a spell, nicely drawn and might settle a lot closer than he did last start.
The first of seven races is scheduled for 12:42, with Matt Reid hosting the TasracingTV coverage.
