After a shock heat defeat on Tuesday afternoon, David Geall is tipping a sharp improvement from superstar Ferdinand Boy in next Friday’s (November 26) Group 3 Devonport Chase final (452m).

After only arriving in Tasmania on Monday, Ferdinand Boy, winner of the G2 Ballarat, Healesville and Shepparton Cups this year, made his interstate debut as the $1.35 favourite in the second of seven heats of the Devonport Chase.

Ferdinand Boy didn’t show his trademark early speed and was beaten 3.75 lengths by fastest qualifier Aston Lee, which reversed a seven-length defeat from when the pair met in a G2 Bendigo Cup heat last month in a 25.21sec victory.

“He was a bit off his game early and didn’t show his normal brilliant speed. I think the different routine and environment might have thrown him out a bit.”

But Ferdinand Boy’s 25.47sec effort in defeat (quicker than four heat winners) earned the son of Fernando Bale and Nayla Swift a shot at a fourth Group victory as the fastest runner-up and he’ll exit Box 3, from where he’s won three of four, in the $25,000 to-the-winner final.

“He flew over to Nathan and Sue Gittus yesterday (Monday),” David Geall said.

“He was a bit off his game early and didn’t show his normal brilliant speed. I think the different routine and environment might have thrown him out a bit.

HEAT WINNERS (Fastest to slowest):
25.21sec Aston Lee
25.26sec Superior Wallis
25.43sec Nando Dreamer
25.48sec Sacred Stance
25.65sec Siberia
25.75sec Harden Up Tommy
25.97sec Buckle Up Miri

Click HERE  to watch Ferdinand Boy (2) finish runner-up to Aston Lee (1) in a G3 Devonport Chase heat on Tuesday afternoon at his interstate debut.

“He still ran pretty quick time and he’ll know the routine a bit better next week so I’d expect him to go very well.”

Geall said if Ferdinand Boy runs up to expectations in the Chase final, he will remain in the Apple Isle for the G1 Hobart Thousand (heats December 9).

Another Victorian star, Blackpool Flash, is first reserve after being edged out in the opening heat at $1.50, when beaten a head by undefeated local Sacred Stance in 25.48sec.

GROUP 3 DEVONPORT CHASE (452m)
Friday 26 November – First prize: $25,000
1 SUPERIOR WALLIS (TAS)
2 SACRED STANCE (TAS)
3 FERDINAND BOY (VIC)
4 SIBERIA (TAS)
5 BUCKLE UP MIRI (TAS)
6 HARDEN UP TOMMY (TAS)
7 NANDO DREAMER (TAS)
8 ASTON LEE (TAS)
Reserves
9 BLACKPOOL FLASH (VIC)
10 ROSIE POSIE (TAS)

Former Victorian Superior Wallis, raced by 1992 AFL Brownlow medallist Scott Wynd and wife Jodie, was an impressive 25.26sec heat winner.

This Friday night at Sandown Park, Ferdinand Boy’s ‘cousin’ Koblenz has been installed $1.40 favourite from Box 2 in the opening G1 Melbourne Cup heat, as Geall takes aim at a second Melbourne Cup victory in four years after winning the great race with My Redeemer in 2018.

“Koblenz has drawn nice, which adds a bit of pressure, but it’s an exciting week,” Geall said.