Favourites dominate in Devonport.
The next Devonport meeting isn't until 14 December, but several of Sunday's winners will be worth following as thoroughbred racing returns to the turf.
Star Fortian ($1.60 fav) was too quick for her rivals, leading throughout in the opening race of the day.
All three of the filly's runs last season came against the three finalists for the Two-Year-Old of the Year, and she relished a drop back in grade and lesser opposition to secure her maiden victory.
"I can't really take much credit for that; it was a bit of a sit and steer," said winning jockey Jackson Radley.
Geegees Missile was another 2yo filly that was no match for the likes of Zany Girl and Crack The Shutters last season, but the full sister to Geegees Mistruth opened her Devonport account and secured back-to-back wins in the process.
Sent out a dominant $1.70 favourite, Anthony Darmanin had the filly in a stalking position behind the leader Geegeeschaser ($11), wearing down that horse over the concluding stages of the 1150m class 1.
"She hasn't been on the track before, but she was very professional. She's a really nice filly," said winning trainer Stuart Gandy.
"She's got a lot of improvement left in her; she's no Mistruth, but she's going very well."
Jackson Radley had a bookend double on the program, with lightly raced 4yo gelding Vino Novello ($2.05-$2.70) taking out the final race, an 1880m maiden/class 1.
After taking a long time to make it to the races, Vino Novello has now won two of his three career starts, all in Devonport.
"I think he's a promising horse going forward, and I think he'll stay all day, so down the track he might be one of our better staying horses over the carnival," said trainer John Blacker.
Jackson Radley, Anthony Darmanin and Shogo Nakano all had riding doubles on the eight-race card, while Leanne Gaffney took training honours with two wins of her own.
Most punters would have had a good day with seven favourites winning, the only exception being a dead-heat between Fast Thinker ($17) and Tuskegee ($6) in the 1650m BM68.
