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Veteran sprinter Liffeybeau ($16) caused an upset in the $50,000 Ladbrokes Stakes over 1200m in Launceston on Wednesday night.

In Brief

• Liffeybeau toys with rivals in Ladbrokes Stakes.
• Trainer was confident his sprinter could atone for recent failures.
• Baker's ninth win aboard veteran gelding.

The Michael Trinder-trained eight-year-old showed brilliance from the gate to lead from barrier one and jockey Troy Baker rated the son of Magnus superbly, stealing a couple of modest sectionals mid-race.

Liffeybeau went into the race on the back of what looked two ordinary performances, but the trainer explained all was not as it seemed on paper.

"I thought his first run was acceptable because I erred by feeding him too much boiled barley early in his prep and last start the saddle slipped and he had to be pulled up, so there were legitimate excuses for his first two below average performances," Trinder said.

"He went into tonight's race very fit, as is the case with all M.S Trinder-trained horses, and I was quietly confident he would do well."

It was Baker's ninth win aboard Liffeybeau, and he was elated with this latest triumph.

"He is a marvel this horse and there were real excuses for his first two sub-par runs this time in," Baker said.

"He found a bit when put under a bit of pressure at the end tonight, and that's a good sign going forward."

Liffeybeau has won 13 and been placed 10 times from 47 starts for $223,000 in stakes.

The race favourite And Beyond ($2.05) settled one-out and one-back from Jason Maskiell but when he emerged to issue his challenge at the top of the home straight, he didn't run on as well as expected.

Gee Gee Secondover ($4.40 into $3.10) was again game in defeat after racing three-wide without cover for the entirety of the race, with Le Cadeau ($8) in third after gaining rails runs throughout.