Trainer Doug Nettlefold is looking forward to Saturday nights George Johnson in Hobart with his stable star Blame It On Me.
The trainer said it would be a race to a guide at where his mare sits when she takes on a quality field in the state’s premier mares race, which is headlined by the Dean Braun trained Our Princess Tiffany.
“It is going to be good to see where we actually sit. We have always contemplated taking her to the mainland, so it will be a good guide to where we are and help decide if we do or don’t in the near future,” said Nettlefold.
Blame It On Me was the star of her age group as a two and three-year-old, with her biggest win being in last season Group 2 Bandbox, which is apart of the Tasmanian Sires’ Stakes Series.
The Big Jim mare recorded her first win as a four-year-old when scoring in a rating 70 to 79 event over the 2579 metre trip in Hobart on Sunday.
It was Blame It On Me’s 10th career win at start 14, and if it weren’t for her breaking her broken pastern in February 2020, the winning tally would have been a lot more.
Driver Natalee Emery held the lead from the pole daw, and after enjoying a soft run in the early and middle stages, the mare dashed away late to score a 15-metre win over Somedan and James Dean.
“I am more than happy with that effort going into the George Johnson,” Nettlefold.
“Given it was her first try at the trip, and to finish it off the way she did in 57.4s was nice,” added the trainer.
Our Princess Tiffany strode around in a solo trial before Sunday’s meeting over the mile trip.
The mare was driven by Alex Ashwood and jogged around in a 62.5 first half mile before running home in 28.5s and 27.3s for a mile of 1m 58.3s.
The five-year-old Art Major mare has won 23 of her 41 starts including the Group 1 Ladyship Cup at Melton two starts ago.
Saturday night’s feature race barrier draws:
Tasmania Cup: 1 Bullys Delight, 2 Willie Go West, 3 Full Speed Ahead, 4 Cool Water Paddy, 5 James Dean, 6 Earl Jujon, 7 Form Analyst, 8 Offthetopofmyhead (Emg), 9 The Shallows (10m), 10 Sea Double Ugrant (10m), 11 Isaac (10m), 12 Lip Reader (20m), 13. Triple Eight (30m), 14 Izaha (30m), 15 Star Chamber (30m).
George Johnson: 1 Aussie Rock, 2 Missin Rock, 3 Coveffe Hustler, 4 Nine Diamonds, 5 Indiana Dreaming, 6 Rockinfeelgood, 7 Pink Ponder, 8 Lockaway Kacie, 9 Blame It On Me, 10 Still Hungover, 11 Our Princess Tiffany.
Tasmanian Derby: 1 Helikaon, 2 Sharmey, 3 Alby Two Chains, 4 Rocknovertime, 5 Sebs Choice, 6 Danceforme.
Tasmanian Oaks: 1 Stepping STones, 2 Momentslikethese, 3 Iden Reactor, 4 Deadly Error, 5 Heavenly Gipsy, 6 Annerie, 7 Most Perfect Major, 8 Written In Silk, 9 Melnrowley.
Saturday’s meeting features 11-races and commences at 17:44 and concludes at 22:52.
Duncan Dornauf for Tasracing