In Brief
- Johnny Chutzpah out to make it three wins from four starts.
- Rise in class should not be an issue.
- Assaranca and Any Beyond look logical dangers.
Johnny Chutzpah (Bulent Muhcu) has won two of his three starts this preparation, the latest in a benchmark 68 over 1200m in Hobart 10 days ago.
At his start prior he was a luckless third behind Peace Be Upon Him and Dunbrody Power with the latter winning the $50,000 Winzenberg Trophy last week to frank the form of Johnny Chutzpah.
Assaranca has had two runs this time in for consecutive fourths and while she is stepping up in grade, the daughter of Nicconi drops in weight compared to what she lugged in BM68 grade.
The Barry Campbell-trained mare hasn't won since November last year but she will carry at least 2.5 kilograms less than she has carried at her past four starts.
And Beyond is the highest rated in the field (81) but he will carry 61.5 kilograms with the claim for apprentice Chelsea Baker and from a near outside gate (7) he would have to improve on what he has shown at his two starts this time in, albeit in better races (Newmarket and WFA Conquering Stakes).
Well-bred three-year-old filly Snowbird impressed with a maiden win in Launceston two weeks ago and in Hobart on Wednesday she has the chance to do what only a very small percentage of horses can do – win a class one immediately after winning a maiden.
The filly lines up in the third race on the card, the Schweppes Tasmanian Derby Day February 10, over 1200m.
Snowbird finished an average of seven lengths from the winner at her first three starts, but last time out she delivered the goods by producing a powerful finishing burst to grab victory in the last few bounds.
The filly is by Needs Further from former smart sprinter Hushama that was owned by the trainer and her sister Mandy Gunn, and this filly was bred by Gunn at Motree Thoroughbreds.
The filly, owned by Brakey and her husband Craig, is unlikely to be aimed at the Thousand Guineas over 1600m next month but that will depend on whether she can be tried and win over 1400m leading up to the fillies' guineas to be run in Hobart on 22 January.
Snowbird finds herself in a race that is littered with sprinters that have been trying to win a class one for a while, with her main dangers likely to come from Dominator's Girl, Chosen Eagle, Banca Tom and Nico the Greek.
