Romantic working trip…except there’s a chaperone!

VICTORIAN horseman Craig Turnbull is hoping for a successful hit-and-run mission this weekend.

Turnbull has taken a pair of three-year-olds across Bass Strait for Saturday night’s Tasmania Derby, which was lucky not to be scrapped from the program.

It was only after extending nominations Tasracing received seven entries for the Blue Riband, which is already down to six runners following a scratching of another Victorian raider, Hot Deal.

Expected to start favourite from the pole, Hot Deal’s removal will benefit Turnbull’s pair National News and Hiranya.

National News will slot into the pole, with Hiranya drawn four, but will begin from three.

Due to arrive at their destination this afternoon, Turnbull is pleased with the way the youngsters have handled the early part of the trip.

“They came on the boat last night and got through that portion of the trip just fine,” Turnbull said. “They had a few hours in Devonport to stretch and have breakfast and licked the bowl clean.

“We’re now on the road and will settle in this evening.”

Turnbull’s daughter Abbey will take the reins behind Hiranya, with her partner, Brad Chisholm to drive National News.

“It probably could have been a nice romantic working weekend for Abbey and Brad, but I’m here to keep an eye on them,” Turnbull joked.

Hiranya made a triumphant Australian debut in Shepparton a fortnight ago with Abbey in the cart.

Wayward during his last two starts, National News boasts three wins and a second from seven outings.

“There is nothing between the two horses,” Turnbull said. “National News is probably a bit quicker but the other is a bit stronger…it’s negligible really.

“Abbey couldn’t decide which one to drive so Michael (Boots) the owner said ‘toss a coin’ and that’s what she did.

“National News has made three mistakes in his races, but has had an excuse each time, so those runs can pretty much be forgotten.

“Both are winning chances, which has been made better following the scratching.”