Australia: Swoop Dog tops Tasmanian Derby

Swoop Dog should not have any trouble with the distance of Friday’s Tasmanian Derby at 1 3/8 miles at Hobart Racecourse in Tasmania.

Swoop Dog has won his last two starts in listed stakes at Launceston Racecourse in Tasmania – the Tasmanian Guineas at a mile on Jan. 8 and the Launceston Guineas at 1 5/16 miles on Jan. 20 as an odds-on favorite.

In the Launceston Guineas, Swoop Dog stalked the pace before taking the lead in the final furlong.

A winner of 3 of 5 starts, Swoop Dog will once again be a strong favorite in the Tasmanian Derby. His biggest threat comes not from the runners he faced in recent stakes in Tasmania, but an improving colt from the mainland in Explosive Jack.

They are the two leading starters in a field of 11 in the Tasmanian Derby, which is part of an eight-race program that begins at 10:33 p.m. Eastern, or 7:33 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Swoop Dog has run only at tracks in Tasmania, beginning his career last July for trainer John Blacker.

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Explosive Jack, a New Zealand-bred colt, has won 2 of 3 starts for trainers Ciaran Maher and David Eustace. Explosive Jack is based with the stable’s division at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne.

The Tasmanian Derby will be the stakes debut for Explosive Jack, who won his debut in a one-mile maiden race at Swan Hill Racecourse in November and finished fifth in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Goulburn Racecourse on Dec. 18. More recently, Explosive Jack won a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Jan. 16, closing from sixth in a field of 10 to prevail by a head.

The Tasmanian Derby field includes Brandum Bay, who was second in the Launceston Guineas, beaten 2 1/4 lengths at 30-1; and Alloway, who was a fast-closing second by a head in a handicap for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles to the undefeated Liquero at Flemington on Jan. 16.

Brandum Bay is trained by Scott Brunton, who led the standings among Tasmanian-based trainers through Wednesday.