Australian Racing: Thespian Waters ready to take centre stage

There are a number of meetings set to take place on Friday, including at Tasmanian, where the Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Stakes is the highlight.

Race 8 Hobart

Thespian Waters @ 3.80

Race 7 Ipswich

Just Flying @ 3.20

Race 5 Strathalbyn

Limbering @ 4.40

Waters to take Tasmanian

The previously mentioned Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Stakes comes up as the eighth race on a 10-race card at Hobart.

An eight-runner field is declared for the 1600m Listed contest, with The Inevitable expected to start a short-priced favourite.

The veteran gelding returned to action with a half-length second in the 1200m Listed Tasmanian Newmarket held on a soft 5 surface at Launceston.

This nine-year-old duly went one better when getting home by a narrow margin stepped up to 1400m on the Listed Conquering stakes at the same venue.

Fourth in this race last year, the extra 200m here is no issue, with the gelding seeking his second win in this race having also won this race in January last year.

THESPIAN WATERS is preferred on this occasion however, despite finishing behind The Inevitable in two of his three starts this prep.

The four-year-old finished strongly in each of those defeats, including when narrowly beaten in the previously mentioned 1400m Listed Conquering Stakes at Launceston earlier this month.

While Sigrid Carr’s gelding raced on a good 4 surface last time out, the softer going expected here is no issue having won on a soft 5 track at this venue when racing first up this prep.

Regular rider Troy Baker is again set to ride here and, jumping from an inside alley, the son of Headwater looks up to recording the seventh win of his career.

Flying for Ipswich glory

The penultimate race on the Ipswich card is a 1350m Benchmark 62 handicap set to take place on a soft 5 track.

Jungle Prince is expected to have his supporters, having returned to action with a good third at Gold Coast earlier this month.

The four-year-old was beaten just over two-and-a-half-lengths when contesting a Class 2 handicap held on a good 4 surface.

Trained by Tony & Maddysen Sears, the gelding wore blinkers for the first time on that occasion and he looks opposable in this event.

The unexposed JUST FLYING is the pick on this occasion, having demonstrated solid form in three outings to date.

This four-year-old jumped at big odds when debuting with a fourth over 1200m when racing on a heavy 8 surface at this venue in July.

Just Flying was spelled following that effort and broke his maiden when triumphing by one-and-a-half-lengths in a course and distance maiden just under a month ago.

Robert Heathcote’s representative raced on a good 4 track that day and is taken to return to winning ways following a runner-up finish in a track and trip Class 1 set weights event recently.

Limbering for Strathalbyn success

The fifth race at Strathalbyn is a 1350m Benchmark 56 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

LIMBERING has been in good form in the main this prep, including when winning at this venue when contesting a similar race to this over track and trip in September.

The seven-year-old has placed in metro company since and returned to winning ways over 1100m at Gawler three starts back.

Limbering won by nearly two lengths when contesting a Benchmark 58 handicap and lost out narrowly when second at Morphettville subsequently.

The daughter of Ferlax failed to shine at Murray Bridge, however, she jumped from a double-figure barrier on that occasion and barrier eight shouldn’t pose too many issues here.

Stephen Theodore’s representative has the distance and forecast underfoot conditions to suit and she can provide apprentice Isaac Sit with his first winner.