Gurdy Man on Guineas trail

By Mark Ryan

MELBOURNE, Dec 22 AAP - Ballarat trainer Darren Weir has the Tasmanian Guineas in mind for Hurdy Gurdy Man who scored an impressive come from behind win at Sandown on Wednesday.

The Street Cry colt was one of seven last-start winners in the Murcotts Hcp (1600m) and was sent out at $13 following his victory in a Ballarat Three-Year-Old maiden over 1400m at his second start on December 12.

Ridden by Jamie Mott, Hurdy Gurdy Man powered home late to score by 1-1/4 lengths from topweight Population ($4.20 fav) with Peck ($7.50) a half-length away third.

"We've taken our time with him but he's a horse that has to get back obviously but once we taught him to settle he adapted to that well and he's starting to find the line," Weir said.

"Early days he used to overrace but he was immature and he's heading in the right direction now.

"We might head to the Tassie Guineas with him now as there's not much around here for him."

The Listed Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) is run at Launceston on January 6.

This year it was won by the Andrew Payne-trained Excuse My French.

Hurdy Gurdy Man is raced by breeders Ed and Robyn Shakespeare and is out of the Bluebird mare Abalone, a winner over 1750m and a half-sister to stakeswinner Perfect Paradise who was runner-up to Freemason in the 1999 Group One TJ Smith Classic.

Unfortunately for the Shakespeares, they sold Abalone in foal for $1700 three years ago.

Mott, who has ridden Hurdy Gurdy Man in all three starts, was quite impressed with the colt.

"Each time I've ridden him he's improved and he improved a lot on his maiden win today," he said.

Meanwhile, Aporia (2.70 fav), prepared by leading trainer Peter Moody, made it two from two when she led throughout in the Australian Fan And Motor Company Hcp (1200m).

The Viscount three-year-old gave apprentice Jarrod Fry the first leg of a winning double.

"I thought Jarrod might have gone a little early but to her credit she stuck to her guns well," Moody said of the filly who won over 1000m at her debut at Morphettville on December 4.

At Sandown, Aporia had 1-1/4 lengths to spare on the line from Lizawi ($5.50) with Sparks Alight ($20) 1-1/2 lengths away third.

"She's done a terrific job this little filly, she'll have a break now and come back at the back end of the autumn and she'll be well suited again at that time of the year," Moody said.

"She might graduate to a black-type race in Brisbane or Adelaide."

Fry brought up his third Melbourne double on the Danny O'Brien-trained Bellabaci ($3.50) with a well-rated frontrunning ride in the Le Pine Funerals Hcp (2100m).