The $75,000 6TY Bandbox for Tasmania-bred three-year-old fillies was taken in style by favorite Barbary Tales (For A Reason), who beat brave The Bride with Alwaysater a distant third.
The highlight of the race was driver Alex Ashwood’s attempt to break the field with The Bride and he almost succeeded.
The Bride started quickly from barrier 3 and found the lead, while Barbary Tales secured a one out and one back.
Ashwood tried to steal the race with a quick 27.6 seconds for the third quarter, but Brodie Davis on Barbary Tales gave chase. Yet when she straightened out she was still about 8 to 10 meters away. However, the run told on The Bride and she shortened the stride considerably in the last 100 meters and Barbary Tales won by more than three meters and the first two runners split the rest with Alwaysatiger almost 25 meters away in third.
Barbary Tales is out of Angkristy (Ponder), a handy racing mare with six wins racing in Tasmania. She also left behind the winning two-year-old A Dragon For Joe.
Trained by Steven Davis for John Huston, Barbary Tales won the Evicus for two-year-old fillies last season and she now has 15 starts for eight wins and more than $138,000 in stakes money.
The $75,000 Nutrien AG Globe Derby for 3-year-old stallions and geldings was won impressively by Hungry Hippo (Stay Hungry).
Driven by Alex Ashwood for trainer Emma Stewart, Hungry Hippo provided a perfect one out and one back trail. Victorian Okanui Beach took the lead, while the other Tasmanian hope Our Tiger was back on track with three.
Hungry Hippo were fortunate to avoid trouble when Preparation, who had been racing outside the leader, suddenly choked at the bell and Ashwood showed great skill and avoided serious interference despite being checked.
Hungry Hippo tackled Okanui Beach on the final lap and he gradually asserted his authority to pull away and win by just under 12 metres, with OurTiger finishing a fair distance away in third.
Hungry Hippo had a clear record in Tasmania before finishing second in the South Australian Derby and was a surprise runner-up last week when expected to win. But there was no doubt that he was clearly the best three-year-old in the event last night.
Hungry Hippo scored 1.57.3 compared to Barbary Tales who ran almost a second slower in 1.57.2.
By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink
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