3 minute read
Lightly-raced mare Hadronica can kick off her four-year-old where she left off in today's Geelong Milk Pura Handicap (race 5) at Geelong.
The mare, prepared at Kyneton by Leon Corstens, won her last run as a three-year-old here on the synthetic track and looks hard to catch at her first run of the new season in today's 1100m RB72 Handicap.
On debut Hadronica raced here on the turf at this trip and was well supported but did herself no favours by racing greenly.
She showed pace and raced on the speed throughout, finding the front in the straight but hanging in and going down in a narrow photo.
She improved on the run when returning to her home course, sitting second throughout before working home well enough to score her maiden success.
Corstens sent her for a break before she resumed over 1000m at Ballarat in heavy ground.
Drawing wide she darted across the field to lead and was there until the final stages but couldn't hold off Music Shop, finishing runner-up.
Next was a 1000m race at Bendigo where she again drew wide.
Settling fourth early but she was midfield when they bunched on the bend before working home well for a 1.9 length fourth behind Close The Door.
Last start she returned here for a 1000m RB62, where she carried 57kg.
Settling third with a good run, she turned a little further back but did find the line well, scoring a half length win over Ribati.
Today the mare rises in class but she drops in weight for the win.
The small field certainly suits as she has good early dash in need be and there doesn't look much pace in the race, aside from Tango Express who is drawn immediately to her inside.
To date she really hasn't run a bad race and looks well placed here having won her only try at the track.
She'll be hard to beat again.
The Jason Warren-trained Total Liberty has the big weight but should be warming up strongly on the line.
Three back the mare was a fresh-up winner at Mornington where she sat just off the pace but ran on to score a neck win.
She then stepped up to 1200m there and was able to lead from a good gate early before taking a sit to third.
She turned there and worked home well but just missed in a tight photo before another spell.
Fresh-up this campaign she raced here in this same grade with 57kg.
Settling fourth and turning there, she really warmed up over the final stages to finish a neck second behind King Cotton.
Today she tackles the same grade but rises in weight as she comes back to a fillies and mares races.
From gate three she will enjoy a good run and will be warming up late again.
The small field suits Tango Express who is finding it hard to notch a win but has been racing in tougher grade.
The Ricky Maund-trained has raced in town every run this year including a last start seventh in open mares class at Caulfield where she sat close to the speed with a tough run before fading to finish a five length seventh.
Today she drops well back in grade and looks well placed after the claim, carrying 3.5kg more in this easier class.
She has good early speed and in this small line-up will take running down.
Nosteppins has the in-form Dean Yendall aboard and also drops sharply in grade form her last run.