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A busy period for thoroughbred racing in Tasmania concludes on Wednesday night with an eight-race program headlined by the Listed Alfa Gold Sovereign Stakes.
Elwick Stakes winner Turk Warrior dominates betting as a deserved favourite but there may be a few punters cautious of taking the short price after the defeats of both Mystic Journey and Deroche on Sunday.
The Armidale Stud Sydeston Night Cup will see the winner gain guaranteed entry into the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup and talented 4YO gelding Supalopo will be looking for five consecutive wins in that race.
The rail is out 7m for Wednesday's program and it was last in this position on 16 December where it was a big advantage to be up on the speed.
R1 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup 24th February Maiden, 1200m
LOUISVILLE (2) is knocking on the door for a maiden win after a pair of seconds. He just got too far back last time and that was over 1400m with a drop in distance here. ALWAYS A WINNER (3) cleared out with the winner last start with a big margin back to third. He could be suited racing forward if Ismail Toker can cross early from a wide draw. First starters GEE GEE PLANE (5), INCRIMINATE (6) and TINY TIMMY (9) showed a bit at the trials and don't find the strongest maiden to kick off in. CRACKERJACK LADY (12) and BOLD MAGIC (11) have their first Tasmanian starts, drawing opposite sides of the track. Their form isn't great, but it will be worth keeping an eye out for a market lead.
R2 Ladbrokes Mdn/cl1, 2100m
THE RISK FACTOR (2) was a dominant winner in this class three weeks ago defeating a field that included CAPTAIN MORGAN (5), BULBASAUR (4) and SIZZKYE (12). He is penalised 2kg for that, but the margin was five lengths and one thinks he would need to regress for them to turn the tables. LOOK TO THE FUTURE (3) gets to the staying trip for the first time but has always given the impression he is looking for it. He closed well last time as did LADY (6) in the same race. SCOTS WHA HAE (8) was significantly better than his $91 starting price in Hobart and second from that race won on Sunday. Look for any market lead on STILTON (9) having her first Tasmanian start for Glenn Stevenson.
R3 Leo Kelly Memorial Class 1 Hcp, 1400m
Rowan Hamer has a pair of good winning hopes here through WE NEED A STAR (1) and HOLY DIAMOND (5). How the track is playing may swing their chances with Holy Diamond likely to be more forward than the stablemate. REWARD ACHIEVER (7) was smashed in the betting in Hobart, but it was a rough watch as the horse was never better than three-wide. That shouldn't be the case here from the inside draw. BLACK MAGIC WOMAN (3) is first-up at 1400m with a pair of trials behind her. She maps for an economical run. FUN 'N' FROLIC (6) led throughout to win last time and you would assume the same tactics will be attempted. GEE GEES PUNTER (4) and TERRIFIC TORRI (9) will be hoping that horses running on from the back have their chance.
R4 Roy & Dora Coghlan Memorial Benchmark 74 Hcp, 1100m
SPARKLING ONE (6) could hardly have been more impressive in her two recent wins. This is a decent jump in class though and it looks on paper like there will be a solid contest for the early lead. INVINCIBLE ROCK (2) has a significant weight swing on APRIANO (1) from their previous meeting. MAGIC WALER (4) and TEZLAH (3) come through the same Devonport trial where Magic Waler was clearly the better of the two. He has won first-up previously. GEE GEE QUEEN BEE (5) trialled the house down at Longford which is pretty common for her. She's drawn wide so early tactics will be interesting as she has been ridden both forward and back.
R5 Alfa Gold Sovereign Stakes, 1200m
Only a field of eight for the Gold Sovereign, reflective of the size of the fields we've seen for most 2YO races this season. TURK WARRIOR (1) resumed with a brilliant win in the Elwick Stakes when backed from $1.75 into $1.45. On exposed form he's the best of the two-year-olds we've seen and will be a short favourite again. He safely held MISS CHARLIE BROWN (5) in Hobart and while I think the filly will be better here in Launceston, she faces a task to turn the tables, particularly drawing the outside gate. OUTBOUND (2) was an impressive winner at this track in maiden company. MISS TUPPENCE (8) was first emergency for that race and was favourite when markets opened. She was a $70,000 purchase and warrants respect after two impressive trials.
R6 Armidale Stud Sydeston Night Cup , 2100m
The winner of this race receives ballot free entry into the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup. The progressive SUPALOPO (5) aims to extend his winning streak to five. His first try at 2100m was hardly a staying contest given the way the race was run, but he was impressive nonetheless and will have taken benefit from that run. UP WIND (6) and RAGHU (3) dictated that race on speed and even though they meet the winner better at the weights, it's hard to see them reversing the result. ETHICAL DILEMMA (4) is holding his form well and is another who should be better for having a run at this trip behind him. WHITE HAWK (1) was outclassed in the Hobart Cup and this company is obviously much easier. The wide draw suits his racing style. QUEEN LA DIVA (2) is a query at this distance and disappointed as a short favourite last time we saw her over 1600m.
R7 Myles Baker Electrical Benchmark 74 Hcp, 1600m
This is a benchmark 74 race but only one horse is rated above 70 and that's GEE GEES QUEENIE (5). She was a last start winner in a very busy finish. LESNAR (6), FIGHTING PHOENIX (8) and LOUIS CHOICE (11) all come through that race where the form is a query given half a length split the first five across the line. OCEAN ESSENCE (1) was given the run of the race by Luke Currie and duly saluted last time. He's won twice at the distance and hasn't missed a placing in four attempts. The run of PAION (2) was better than it looked in Hobart, settling last in a race run to suit those on the speed. He's looking for a mile now. This is harder than what BARJEEL (4) has been contesting but he gets some weight relief as a result. TOUGH BOY (3) has a great Launceston record but jumps from 1220m to 1600m and hasn't won past 1400m previously.
R8 Examiner/launceston Travel & Cruise Fashions On The Field Oaks Day Benchmark 84 Hcp, 1400m
BALEARIC (1) was smashed in betting late in Hobart but was held up at a key stage and had to settle for third. THE MASTER SPEED (3) was also in that race, controlling from the front which he may be able to do here as well. Balearic will give at least 4kg to the field being the highest rated horse in the race by some margin. EASY ROAD (2) was a bit plain last time, something that the market saw coming as he was a big drifter. 1400m looks better for him as it does for CABARRUS (4) who ran on from last in the same race. You would expect him to settle closer having drawn gate one.
