25-year-old trainer/driver, Charlie Castles, earned his biggest career success when Gordons Bay ($21) won the $75,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Easter Cup (2698m) in Launceston on Saturday night.
Castles positioned Gordons Bay midfield on the pegs and needed the seas to part in the home straight, where he drove through on the inside to beat De Goey ($8) and Horatius Speculo ($1.95), with just a neck separating the placegetters. In a thrilling Easter Cup, just 3.5m covered the first six horses across the line.
“It just all opened up; it was more luck than anything. That’s his go; if he can get a soft trip and sprint home like he did, he’s always in the race,” Castles said.
An eight-year-old gelding, Gordons Bay, has been consistent since he began his Tasmanian racing career in January 2025, with his December win in the Toreace Flying Mile his greatest triumph prior to Saturday night.
“He had a fair few problems there for a while, so to get here is very special, and the team have done a great job.”
It was an outstanding night at the office for Castles, who also won the $20,000 Jane Ellen Final (2200m) with Alwaysatiger ($6).
The margin of 5.8m was more decisive than Castles’ Easter Cup win for Alwaysatiger, who rounded her opposition up from a midfield position in the running line.
“She was close enough and clearly good enough in the end,” said Castles post-race.
On a packed 10-race card, Emma Stewart and Tarn Ford combined for a winning double with My Bettor Half ($1.70) and Ravishing Ruby ($1.12).
Soul of Karalta ($31) won the $20,000 Keith Stanley Debutante for two-year-olds. Winning Brew ($4.40) made his first career win a feature one by taking out the $20,000 Allen Williams Memorial for maiden pacers, and Always Bettor ($1.24) justified his short quote with victory in the $20,000 Sinbad Bay Final.
There were a few nervous moments late for punters who took the $1.10 about Triedtotellya, who did enough to win the $14,000 Kevin Gillies Memorial. The state’s best pacer held on to defeat the fast-finishing Ray Dan ($17) with just a half-neck margin on the line.
“He’s got a bad habit of knocking off when he finds the front, so hopefully we can get that out of him,” said trainer/driver Rohan Hillier.
Triedtotellya will now head to Western Australia to begin his preparation for the $1.25 million Nullarbor on 17 April.
