Drums Beating In Devonport Cup Heats

VICTORIAN trainer David Geall returns to Devonport on Tuesday, hoping littermates Fernando Drums and Emerald Rainbow can qualify for next week's Group 3 Devonport Cup Final (452m).

Fernando Drums showed he was right on track for a tilt at the group 3 feature with a cracking victory at Devonport last Wednesday afternoon, running a very smart 25.59, holding out race-favourite Despacito.

Geall opted to send both chasers to Mangalore trainer Susan Gittus for their Tassie campaigns.

"Some dogs take time to settle into new surroundings, but Fernando Drums has absolutely thrived since being in Tassie and Susan has done a fantastic job for us," said Melbourne Cup winning trainer David Geall.

"My wife Rose and I get a huge thrill out of racing pups that we've raised – we are over the moon with this litter. As a rule Fernando Drums is fast early but can be hit or miss with his box manners, when he times the jump he's very hard to beat."

By Fernando Bale out of Geall's great broodbitch Where's Demonica, Fernando Drums started his Tassie campaign with a brilliant performance at Hobart last Thursday week, running 25.84.

Geall hopes Emerald Rainbow can deliver his best in the heats, not short of his share of ability when at his peak.

"Emerald Rainbow has been slightly disappointing lately, I know he can run a lot better then what he has in the starts he's had in Tassie," added Geall.

"I've raced in Tassie a few times over the years, we brought a dog over called Release The Heat who won a prelude of the Hobart Thousand but sadly broke down in his heat. We made a Launceston Cup in 2008 with Winfrey Lass so it would be nice to make the Devonport Cup final."