Trainer Bill Ryan has high hopes for Red Nova after the gelding won The Doc’s 3YO Plate at Devonport on Monday.

Red Nova (3g Savoire Vivre – Novadraan by Stardraan) had been expected to make his debut at Hobart earlier this month but he played up at the barriers and was a late withdrawal.

“He has always shown ability but things just didn’t pan out last time and hopefully he can go on with it from here,” Ryan said.  “We’ve missed the boat as far as the good three-year-old races are concerned but we’re happy to just plod along this time in.”

Red Nova shared the lead with Argentogris (Flying Spur) on Boxing Day and he edged out the heavily backed favourite after a thrilling duel up the straight.

The winner is a homebred for Ryan and his wife Mary.  They also raced his dam Novadraan to four wins in Launceston and Hobart.  “She proved to be a handy broodmare but unfortunately we lost her last year,” Ryan revealed.  “Her two year-old is also by Savoire Vivre.  He’s about to go into work and looks like he might make the grade, too.”

Savoire Vivre is making a determined bid to win his first Tasmanian sires’ premiership in 2011-12.  Armidale Stud’s son of Sadler’s Wells has sired 23 winners of 37 races so far this season for earnings of $487,000.

Grenville Stud resident West Quest (Gone West) has won the last six Tassie titles.  He is currently in second place on the table with 21 winners of 26 races and $479,000.

Armidale stallion Tough Speed sired the feature winner on the Devonport card when Gea Force prevailed in the Sheffield Cup.  A $30 outsider, Gea Force flew home to deny Savoire Vivre gelding Dream Flyer.

Dream Flyer started favourite in the Sheffield Cup and he will be fancied again in the $100,000 Devonport Cup on January 11.