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Local trainers will face a challenge to overcome the might of some of Australia’s top stables in the $100,000 Tasmanian Derby in Hobart on Friday.

A limited Derby entry list of 10 three-year-olds contains only three Tasmanian-trained nominations prepared by John Blacker (Biscay Barb), Charlie Goggin and his daughter Luella Meaburn (Tough Vic), and the Chris Crook/Imogen Miller partnership (Trusted Warrior).

The three local entries were well beaten in the Hobart Guineas (2100m) at Elwick on January 17 won by the Sydney raider Northwest Passage from the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott stable.

Northwest Passage revelled in the soft going to win by seven lengths for his third win in only four starts. On that form it is hard to envisage anything that finished behind him finding enough improvement to turn the tables on the So You Think gelding at level weights in the Derby.

Waterhouse will feel she is owed a Tasmanian Derby after her only previous starter in the classic, Kinnersley, finished second as an odds on favourite in 2010.

Adam Hyeronimus, Sydney’s most improved jockey, rode Northwest Passage in the Guineas and has again been entrusted with the ride on the gelding in the Derby.

However Northwest Passage will face tougher opponents than he met in the Guineas as several leading Victorian stables have targeted the race.

The Victorian entries include the Darren Weir-trained Igitur, Captain Rhett (Pat Carey), Matamanoa (Patrick Payne), Shadow Prince (Mick Price), French Classic (Danny O’Brien) and Autmed (Mark Webb).

Weir has made several unsuccessful attempts to win the Tasmanian Derby over the last 10 years, his closest results being seconds with Rainbow Storm in 2014 and Howard Be Thy Name in 2016.

Since 2007 Tasmanian-trained three-year-olds have won the Derby four times with the other six going to interstate trainers Stuart Kendrick, Peter Morgan, Mick Price, Peter Gelagotis, John McArdle and Tony Vasil.

The successful Tasmanian trainers have been John Luttrell twice, Gary White and Adam Trinder.

The locals will also be up against it in Friday’s $125,000 Bow Mistress Stakes for fillies and mares with interstate stables mounting their usual strong assault on the G3 feature over 1200m.

The Victorian entries include the 2015 winner I Love It (John Salanitri), Deja Blue (Robbie Griffiths), Lyuba (Darren Weir), Inner City Girl (David Brideoake), Pantheress (Leon & Troy Corstens), Ocean Embers (Shea Eden), Must Be Mink (Darren Weir) and Foreign Affair (Henry Dwyer).

Entries for the Tasmanian Derby and Bow Mistress have been extended until 10am on Monday.