Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Tasmania · Wednesday 26 August 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 9 races at Devonport Synthetic. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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The most proven runner in a weak maiden. Guber has 12 synthetic starts for four seconds and two thirds, and his two runs over 1350m at Devonport produced a second and a third. The wide gate is the query, but Newitt's 31% strike rate at the venue and the slow predicted tempo let him park handy.
Barrier 4 and the visors are genuine positives after a run of wide draws forced him back.
Map advantage makes him a live place hope.
The 2kg claim matters in a compressed weight scale and he is the freshest horse in the field. Placings are the realistic target.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Chef's Kiss | 3 | A Darmanin | G J Stevenson | 58.5kg | $1.65 |
| 2nd | 8 | Jock Rock | 7 | Kirra-Lee Lane | Yassy Nishitani | 54kg | $9.50 |
| 3rd | 4 | Guber | 8 | C Newitt | Patrick Dargan | 58.5kg | $10.00 |
| 4th | 7 | Unfiltered | 4 | D M Ganderton | J K Blacker | 58.5kg | $4.40 |
| 5th | 3 | Gee Gees Brother | 2 | T Baker | Sarah Cotton | 58.5kg | $9.00 |
| 6th | 5 | Nicalbi | 6 | Christopher Pang | Bradley Franklin | 56.5kg | $18.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Eucumbene | 1 | Hayley Mc Carthy | Ms A Fulton | 58.5kg | $101.00 |
| 8th | 6 | The Mountaineer | 5 | Thomas Spillane | Rowan Hamer | 55.5kg | $101.00 |
The most reliable and best-mapped runner in a weak maiden. Barrier 1 is the key: this track rewards runners in the first three at the 400m, and Newitt strikes at 31% here. Fit, consistent and drawn to control the moderate tempo, she rates the most likely winner.
The only real reservation is barrier 8 on a circuit where inside gates and forward position matter, so he must show natural early pace.
The form horse on raw merit but fighting the track profile. He needs Ganderton to use barrier 4 and land closer than usual. Place value rather than win.
Her last-start tenth is easily forgiven: she raced keenly and wide throughout at 1350m, and the first-time lugging bit and nose roll directly target that. The key upgrade is Darmanin, striking at 26% here, replacing riders with far weaker records.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Equivaster | 1 | C Newitt | Ms L Gaffney | 56.5kg | $3.10 |
| 2nd | 5 | Lyrebird Lady | 10 | Christopher Pang | Trent Wells | 54.5kg | $16.00 |
| 3rd | 1 | Harrata | 4 | D M Ganderton | G J Stevenson | 58.5kg | $9.00 |
| 4th | 10 | Flying Further | 9 | E Byrne Burke | Ms L Gaffney | 54kg | $16.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Peninsula Rose | 7 | T Baker | J K Blacker | 56.5kg | $20.00 |
| 6th | 9 | Macelleroy | 6 | Liana Wood | G J McCulloch | 53kg | $15.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Awesome Orphan | 2 | A Darmanin | M S Trinder | 56.5kg | $12.00 |
| 8th | 8 | Deer Power | 8 | Kirra-Lee Lane | Yassy Nishitani | 54kg | $2.25 |
| 9th | 6 | Omaha Victory | 5 | Catherine Van Munster | Sarah Cotton | 56.5kg | $51.00 |
| 10th | 2 | Smithy | 3 | Hayley Mc Carthy | J K Blacker | 58.5kg | $101.00 |
The strongest pure form case in the race. The 59.5kg is the only genuine query.
Solid but short - safer at the placings.
The classic Devonport map horse - 4 wins from 6 starts on this surface, a win at this track and distance, and clear early speed from gate 2 on a circuit where leaders convert at 24%.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Hartman | 2 | Luke Dempsey | Barry Campbell | 58kg | $3.10 |
| 2nd | 1 | Thoros Of Myr | 6 | Kirra-Lee Lane | Adam Trinder | 58kg | $9.00 |
| 3rd | 6 | Geegees Missile | 3 | A Darmanin | S Gandy | 54kg | $2.10 |
| 4th | 2 | Cherokee Dancer | 1 | E Byrne Burke | Adam Trinder | 59.5kg | $5.50 |
| 5th | 3 | Furneaux | 4 | C Newitt | J L Keys | 59.5kg | $15.00 |
| 6th | 5 | Bold Instinct | 5 | Chloe Wells | Dean Wells | 54.5kg | $21.00 |
Party Day is the most reliable form line in a shallow Class 1. Barrier 4 and genuine early speed line up perfectly with a track where forward runners win 19% and backmarkers essentially never do.
Darmanin's 26% strike rate at the track is a genuine plus.
Geegees Mercedes gets every chance to bounce back. Barrier 3 is the best gate in the race on a course where inside sprint draws dominate, and the seven-day backup signals stable intent.
Model of consistency on this surface with seven synthetic starts producing three seconds and two thirds, and she habitually leads or sits handy at the 400m, which is the winning shape here. Only 51kg after the claim helps considerably over 1009m. The problem is barrier 11 on a circuit where wide draws lose effectiveness sharply, forcing either a wide trip or hard early work into a very fast tempo. One win from 23 starts also flags a horse that finds ways to get beaten. Place value.
Barrier 5 and 54kg give her the lightest weight of the main hopes.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Houlihan | 8 | A Darmanin | Barry Campbell | 57kg | $2.25 |
| 2nd | 5 | Geegees Mercedes | 3 | Chloe Wells | S Gandy | 55.5kg | $8.50 |
| 3rd | 4 | Party Day | 4 | C Newitt | Jessie Bazan | 56kg | $2.70 |
| 4th | 11 | Say It With Words | 7 | Christopher Pang | L A Wells | 52kg | $14.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Golden Sweet Heart | 1 | Ms L Gaffney | 54kg | $17.00 | |
| 6th | 3 | Pacific Witness | 10 | Sheridan Clarke | J K Blacker | 56kg | $41.00 |
| 7th | 8 | Mel's Street Above | 5 | T Baker | J K Blacker | 54kg | $19.00 |
| 8th | 6 | Super Snippy | 9 | E Byrne Burke | M A Ganderton | 55.5kg | $10.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Just Plain Nuts | 6 | Hayley Mc Carthy | Dylan Clark | 59kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Geegeeschaser | 11 | Liana Wood | Amanda Jones | 51kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Red Fox | 2 | Kirra-Lee Lane | M W Evans | 52kg |
The most reliable form reference in a small, moderate field. Stardarmus won over this course, distance and class on 26 July when leading all the way, then measured up at Bench. He drops in grade, has 4 starts here for a win and a placing, and holds the tactical speed this on-speed circuit demands. Barrier 7 and 59.5kg are the negatives, but a slow tempo with no genuine leader lets him take up a forward position.
The map horse. Kireina Marubrah is 9 starts for 2 wins and a third over this exact course and distance, and every good run comes when she gets to the front. With no genuine leader in the field and a slow tempo forecast, barrier 4 lets her control proceedings on a circuit where leaders win a quarter of the time. She drops from Bench.
Respected for the placings only.
Pure value. The tongue tie coming off and a light 56.5kg add appeal for an each-way play.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Stardarmus | 7 | C Newitt | J K Blacker | 59.5kg | $1.75 |
| 2nd | 4 | Wolf Junior | 5 | E Byrne Burke | Barry Campbell | 59kg | $2.60 |
| 3rd | 5 | Kireina Marubrah | 4 | Luke Dempsey | Adam Trinder | 58kg | $8.50 |
| 4th | 6 | Alpine Blast | 6 | T Baker | J K Blacker | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Sugoi Legend | 1 | Christopher Pang | Rowan Hamer | 54kg | $26.00 |
| 6th | 2 | Only Old Once | 3 | D M Ganderton | Trent Wells | 59.5kg | $41.00 |
| 7th | 1 | Quicken Up | 2 | Thomas Spillane | Rowan Hamer | 59.5kg | $20.00 |
He has won his past two, both here, and drops to 54kg after winning with 57kg twice. Barrier 3 and Darmanin's 26% Devonport strike rate mean he should hold a top-three spot at the 400m on a track where that is the winning profile. Class rise is the only genuine query.
He drops a huge 6.5kg to 54.5kg, maps as the likely leader from gate 4, and the track profile rewards exactly that: leaders win at 24% here while backmarkers win at 3%. Newitt is 31% at the venue and 32% for the stable. The lone concern is a 59-day gap and no win yet at the distance.
He has won at this course and distance from his sole attempt and boasts 2 wins and 2 seconds from 6 Devonport Synthetic starts. The reservations are a jockey with no experience at the venue and a habit of settling too far back for a track where the first three at the 400m dominate. Solid place claims.
He won last start at Hobart humping 61kg and gets 3kg relief today from the best barrier in the field on a track where inside draws and forward positions dominate. The jockey booking and a class rise temper enthusiasm, and his June flop here came with a stewards-reported mouth injury.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Tuskegee | 4 | C Newitt | Barry Campbell | 54.5kg | $3.60 |
| 2nd | 7 | Simply Deep | 3 | A Darmanin | Barry Campbell | 54kg | $2.10 |
| 3rd | 1 | Captain Cam | 1 | Hayley Mc Carthy | J K Blacker | 58kg | $21.00 |
| 4th | 5 | The Longest Yard | 5 | Sheridan Clarke | G J Stevenson | 56kg | $8.00 |
| 5th | 4 | Stone Cold Stunner | 7 | Kirra-Lee Lane | G J Stevenson | 55kg | $10.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Shy Guy | 2 | E Byrne Burke | Barry Campbell | 57.5kg | $7.50 |
| 7th | 2 | Nicco The Greek | 6 | Luke Dempsey | J L Keys | 57.5kg | $18.00 |
From barrier 6 he can take the handy position that wins races here - leaders and on-pace runners hold a 24% strike rate at this track. The class rise and 59-day gap are the risks, but his Devonport map and Newitt's 31% track record outweigh them.
The most track-and-distance-proven runner in the field. From gate 3 with genuine early speed and no established leader engaged, she can either dictate or sit outside the pace in the winning zone. Her weakness is a modest 9% win rate and a habit of being run down, which makes place the sensible play.
A last-start Devonport Synthetic winner drawn on the fence, which is a genuinely strong platform at an on-speed circuit. He won by taking a forward position and holding it, and he is second up off a first-up victory so he arrives fit.
Corsa Veloce has raced twice at this track and distance for a win, has won first up before, and picks up Darmanin, who strikes at 26% at Devonport - a meaningful intent signal for a fresh runner. She has been competitive in Class 1 grade at Launceston with two placings.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | City Wok | 1 | Luke Dempsey | Liam Beamish | 59kg | $2.05 |
| 2nd | 2 | Colonel Bogey | 6 | C Newitt | Jessie Bazan | 58.5kg | $2.70 |
| 3rd | 7 | Bella Chinkara | 10 | Hayley Mc Carthy | J K Blacker | 55.5kg | $20.00 |
| 4th | 9 | Corsa Veloce | 11 | A Darmanin | Adam Trinder | 54kg | $18.00 |
| 5th | 5 | Nunkeri | 3 | E Byrne Burke | Adam Trinder | 56kg | $14.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Opensea | 9 | Christopher Pang | M S Trinder | 54kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Little El | 5 | Kirra-Lee Lane | Ms L Gaffney | 56.5kg | $7.00 |
| 8th | 10 | Alpine Honey | 8 | T Baker | J F Luttrell | 54kg | $101.00 |
| 9th | 8 | Nataldi | 4 | Liana Wood | G J McCulloch | 52.5kg | $81.00 |
| 10th | 4 | Final Approach | 2 | Thomas Spillane | Rowan Hamer | 54kg | $151.00 |
| Scr | 11 | Say It With Words | 7 | Chloe Wells | L A Wells | 54kg |
The most reliable winning profile in the race. Three wins from four starts at Devonport Synthetic and two wins from three at this track and distance, with every run showing him parked in the first three at the 400m — precisely the pattern this circuit rewards. Barrier 2 and the retained winning rider seal it. Only the 59kg impost gives pause.
Won both his starts at this track and distance and won when fresh at his only prior first-up attempt, so the profile is genuinely strong and the class drop from Open helps. The concerns are practical rather than formal: 182 days off, only five career starts with both wins in lower grades, 59kg, and a rider out of form.
The 5kg weight relief from his heavy-weighted defeats here is significant and 19 starts at this exact track and distance means no surprises. The problem is barrier 9 on a track that punishes wide draws and a 6% career strike rate that flags him as a place proposition.
Fit, in-form and dropping in grade with a strong rider upgrade in C Newitt, who owns a 31% strike rate at this track.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Ozonica | 3 | E Byrne Burke | Adam Trinder | 59kg | $1.65 |
| 2nd | 7 | I'm Chev | 8 | Liana Wood | G J Stevenson | 51kg | $51.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Gee Gees Me Boy | 4 | Chloe Wells | S Gandy | 57.5kg | $26.00 |
| 4th | 1 | The Real Man | 2 | Kirra-Lee Lane | Liam Beamish | 59kg | $2.80 |
| 5th | 5 | Wild Nights | 6 | C Newitt | J K Blacker | 55.5kg | $15.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Chicane | 5 | Luke Dempsey | M S Trinder | 58kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 8 | Volkanovski | 9 | T Baker | J F Luttrell | 54kg | $13.00 |
| 8th | 6 | Mcsweyn | 7 | Sheridan Clarke | Barry Baker | 55kg | $81.00 |
| 9th | 9 | Gie It Laldy | 1 | Hayley Mc Carthy | Patrick Dargan | 54kg | $41.00 |
The most credible synthetic performer in the race. Respite has an 8:2-2-0 record at Devonport Synthetic and has won at this track and distance, doing it from a handy third throughout - exactly the winning profile here where the first three at the 400m dominate. Class rise to Class 3 is the query, but she is lightly raced at 11 starts with 55% place strike and races honestly. Trinder/Byrne Burke combination is a genuine positive and 45 days between runs is a freshener, not a spell.
Her one previous attempt at 1650m here produced an eighth.
Racing in career-best form with a Class 5 win and a second in his last two, and gate 2 gives him the tactical spot that wins races here. He was third over this precise track and distance in July after leading to the 400m. The concern is a 9:0-0-2 synthetic record and a habit of leading then weakening, which a projected fast tempo with three genuine leaders makes worse.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Al Maximus | 10 | Kirra-Lee Lane | J K Blacker | 53kg | $5.00 |
| 2nd | 1 | Azonto | 9 | A Darmanin | Barry Campbell | 59kg | $2.20 |
| 3rd | 2 | Coastal Strike | 2 | C Newitt | P A Hill | 56.5kg | $5.50 |
| 4th | 3 | Respite | 7 | E Byrne Burke | Adam Trinder | 55.5kg | $6.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Mateus | 8 | Hayley Mc Carthy | J K Blacker | 54kg | $31.00 |
| 6th | 8 | Who Can It Be Now | 5 | Christopher Pang | Rowan Hamer | 52kg | $20.00 |
| 7th | 10 | Steele My Sunshine | 6 | Sheridan Clarke | J F Luttrell | 54kg | $18.00 |
| 8th | 7 | Sky Eagle | 4 | T Baker | J K Blacker | 54kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 6 | Purr Sefanee | 1 | Chloe Wells | Bradley Franklin | 54kg | $19.00 |
| 10th | 5 | Ozturk | 3 | Thomas Spillane | Rowan Hamer | 51kg | $81.00 |
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