Three straight Devonport Cups for Stevenson
Trainer Glenn Stevenson has claimed his third straight Devonport Cup, with Asva defying stablemate Ashy Boy’s attempt to win the race for third consecutive time.
Stevenson’s pair swept from the rear of the field in the $125,000 Tasmanian feature, with veteran jockey Kelvin Sanderson timing his run perfectly on Capitalist gelding Asva, who was fourth in the same race last year.
It looked briefly as if Ashy Boy, who started $41, would claim his third straight Cup, but Asva had too much momentum and won by 0.3l with Sushi Express finishing third.
The race, which was broadcast on Racing.com for the first time, did not pan out as planned for the favourite Earendel. With Craig Newitt looking for his 10th win in his hometown Cup, they found themselves shuffled back to last and they could only finish eighth.
Newitt did win the day’s other feature, the Carpet Charge, on star three-year-old filly Sanniya, who romped to a seven-length win in the $109,000 sprint.
Sanniya, who races in the Star Thoroughbreds colours for trainer Barry Campbell, is part-owned by Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
