Launceston Cup: Final Field & Barriers

Friday, 18 February 2011 06:27

Bid Spotter has drawn well in his bid to complete the Hobart Cup - Launceston Cup double in the same season.

To be ridden once again by Michael Rodd, Bid Spotter will jump from barrier eight.

Leading Tasmanian stayer Dream Pedlar, like the Hobart Cup, is topweight with 59kg and joined by jockey Michael Guthrie in the saddle.

Victorian visitors Davcon and Red Buttons, who finished third and fourth respectively in the Hobart Cup, will start alongside each other in barrier nine and ten.

Hobart Cup runner-up Organised has drawn barrier five while other notable runners include Fast Future (barrier 1), Skystreamer (barrier 7) and White Yard (barrier 11).

The final field and barriers for the Launceston Cup can be viewed below.

Launceston (Wednesday)
Race 7 @ 4:09pm - $225,000 Group 3 AAMI Launceston Cup (2400m)

Picture: Sportpix

Lady Lynette Wins Bow Mistress

Saturday, 05 February 2011 10:26

Tasmanian's favourite racehorse Lady Lynette made a brilliant return to the track today when she stormed home to beat stablemate I'm a Hussy in the listed $150,000 Bow Mistress Trophy (1200m) at Hobart.

The star mare was allowed to settle off the speed by gun local jockey Brendon McCoull before coming with a brilliant burst of speed in the straight to win in brilliant fashion.

Prepared by father-son training team of David and Scott Brunton, Lady Lynette was racing for the first time since a Melbourne campaign in the spring that peaked with a second win in the Tesio Stakes.

A daughter of Ladoni, Lady Lynette is a great advertisement for the Tasmanian breeding industry.

The Armidale Stud graduate was purchased for $13,000 from the 2006 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale at Launceston.

As it stands her impeccable record reads out at 11 wins and 11 minor placings from just 33 starts for earnings of $692,633.

She is one of three winners produced by the winning Coronation Day mare Queen's Own.

Queen's Own is a full sister to the Group One placed Regal Sashay and half sister to Echarpe - the dam of quality black type galloper Forbidden Quest.

Interestingly Forbidden Quest was one of the day's other impressive feature race winners - capturing the $50,000 Ingham Jockey Club Cup (2100m).

The win was the 11th for the Jason Clifford trained Forbidden Quest and sent his earnings soaring toward $200,000.

This month's Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale was boosted significantly by both wins.

A full brother to Lady Lynette is one of the highlight lots of the auction and will headline a quality Armidale Stud draft when offered as lot 20.

And a half brother to Forbidden Quest by exciting young sire Helike will go under the hammer as lot 105.

The 2011 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale will be held at Launceston's Inveresk Showgrounds on February 22 - to view the online catalogue click here.

Pictures: Fiona Tomlin

Conquering Adds To Impressive Record

Sunday, 13 February 2011 07:45

Popular Tasmanian veteran Conquering showed there was still plenty of life in his legs when he kicked back strongly to record the 23rd win of his career in the Thomas Lyons Stakes at Hobart.

Trainer Charlie Goggin said he thought the eight-year-old was gone when challenged by last year's winner Royal Ida.

However the gutsy gelding found plenty under pressure to win Sunday's Listed race by three-quarters of a length from Rocky Times.

The favourite, 10-year-old Royal Ida, wilted on his run and finished 1-1/4 lengths away third.

Conquering, who also won the Thomas Lyons (1400m) in 2009, gave Goggin his fifth win in the Listed race.

The gelding was bred and is raced by the Goggin family's Runnymede Racing and Breeding Pty Ltd managed by the trainer's wife Lindy.

"We're obviously very pleased with the horse. It was a race we set him for and when he's right he gives his best," Goggin said.

"Today he looked beaten. I thought he was gone but he fought back really strongly."

Conquering, who has earned $903,845 prize money over 79 starts, is certainly a favourite of the Goggin family.

"We bred the horse and weaned him and my daughter (Luella) broke him in so it has been a family affair," Goggin said.

"Michael Voss his handler has done a fantastic job with him also and he's won at the four metropolitan courses in Melbourne and he's won each time he's gone over there.

"To win $900,000 as a Tasmanian-trained horse is a pretty good effort."

Conquering will now try to boost his record even further in the George Adams Stakes (1600m) on Launceston Cup Day at Mowbray on February 23.

"If he won the George Adams he'll probably to go to Melbourne for the Blamey Stakes," Goggin said.

"He's a tough horse."

The Group Two Blamey Stakes (1600m) is run at Flemington on March 12.

Mourinho Wins Tassie Derby

Saturday, 05 February 2011 08:00

Trainer Peter Gelagotis celebrated his first group success after lightly-raced three-year-old Mourinho won today’s $150,000 Group Three Cadbury Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart.

Ridden to perfection by Anthony Darmanin, Mourinho settled just behind the speed established by Stella’s Rose and Ludka.

The pace of the race continued to slacken as the race expired before Darmanin slipped Mourinho more rein to whip around the aforementioned duo and hit the lead shortly after straightening.

Mourinho was never headed from that stage on, dashing away for one of the easiest wins recorded in stakes company this season.

Mourinho ($4.50) defeated Heez Born Lucky ($4) by 2-3/4 lengths with Jay Bee's Gee Gee ($58.70) a further short neck away in third.

The Lee Freedman-trained Ludka ($3.80 fav) weakened badly to finish seventh.

“I thought he had the race won a long way from home,” Gelagotis told TasRacing.

“They (the leaders) dropped anchor but he is a real relaxed horse, they were pulling in front and burning petrol.”

“He switched off beautifully and when he (Darmanin) took off and rounded them up they were all gasping for air and he won real soft I thought.

“He’s got a real bright future.”

Mourinho will now be sent for a spell and Gelagotis intends to target a couple of country cups next season with the son of Oratorio.

“He’s definitely a nice country cups type horse back in Victoria should he continue to make that natural progression.”

Purchased for $36,000 from the 2009 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Mourinho has raced six times for three wins and a placing with prizemoney in excess of $150,000 in prizemoney.

Picture: Colin Bull

Bid Spotter Wins Hobart Cup

Sunday, 13 February 2011 07:15

A long range plan to target the Hobart Cup with Bid Spotter came to fruition when the gelding landed his career best win in the $300,000 Group Three event.

Trainer Graeme Rogerson was at home at his New Zealand base on Sunday and was represented by his his Sydney foreman Roger Elliott.

Bid Spotter arrived in Tasmania with solid lead up form in Sydney where he had finished second to Voice Commander in the Frank Underwood Cup (2000m) at Rosehill and third to Lang in the Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm, both at Listed level last month.

"He was a bit unlucky at his last run because he never got a clear run but he's come down here and he's done everything bang on," Elliott said.

"Graeme has had this race in mind for him since November last year.

"The horse has had a few problems but we've got them all sorted out and he's going good and we'll stay down for the Launceston Cup."

"It was a great ride by Michael (Rodd)."

The Group Three Launceston Cup (2400m) is on February 23.

Rodd finished third in the 2010 Cup aboard Dream Pedlar and had Bid Spotter inside that horse midfield on Sunday.

He got clear running coming to the home turn and took Bid Spotter ($8.20) out wide in the straight and the horse did the rest, powering home to score by a half length from local Organised ($18.10) with Davcon ($18) a half length away third.

"It's a big effort to bring horses all the way down here from Sydney and Roger has done a terrific job with him," Rodd said.

"We expected the horse to run well. We just didn't know how he was going to get around the track.

"It's a tight little track but he handled it very well and the favourite (Dream Pedlar) was dropping off at the 600 metres so I felt very confident when I moved past him.

"I didn't spend any petrol from the good draw (barrier four) until he got to the top of the straight.

"He's been a frustrating horse at times for the owners but he's come down here and adapted to the conditions and the left-handed way.

Bid Spotter best win before Sunday was the 2009 Listed City Tatts Cup (2400m) at Randwick.

Topweight Dream Pedlar ($5.60) worked home late to finish fifth.

"He had a perfect run but just raced flat. At the top of the straight he was going to run last but he picked up and he felt like he wanted 2400 metres," jockey Craig Williams said.

"He's had a great preparation."

Red Buttons ($7.10) was given the run of the race by Brad Rawiller from barrier one and gained a rails run in the straight to hit the front before being swamped by the placegetters, finishing fourth.

Picture: Sportpix

Maskiell Appeal Dismissed

Friday, 04 February 2011 07:05

The Tasmanian Racing Appeal Board has dismissed jockey Stephen Maskiell's appeal against a three month suspension handed down by stewards over his ride on I Said in Hobart three weeks ago.

Maskiell was charged under AR135(b) of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing, in that he "failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that his horse (I Said) was given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field".

While Maskiell's appeal against the conviction was dismissed, the TRAB has reserved its decision on penalty but that is expected to be handed down some time next week.

Kent Worried About Topweight In Hobart Cup

Saturday, 12 February 2011 02:59

Red Buttons has arrived in Tasmania in A1 condition for Sunday's $300,000 Hobart Cup but his trainer Mick Kent is not confident he can beat local champ Dream Pedlar.

The six-year-old was flown over on Thursday for the Group Three 2200m race in which he will carry 57.5kg, 1.5kg less than the topweight, Dream Pedlar.

"He's in great order the old boy and he's flying," Kent said of Red Buttons who has won four of his last five starts.

"But Dream Pedlar is a good horse and I don't know whether we can beat him.

"It is a tricky track but my horse has drawn (barrier one) to get every chance."

Red Buttons landed the Moe Cup (2050m) and the Kyneton Cup (2000m) in successive runs last spring.

But Kent said he erred by telling jockey Glen Boss to go forward in the Canberra Cup (2000m) in which he weakened in the run home to finish sixth to Macknuckle on November 28.

The Red Ransom six-year-old was given a nine-week break before he ran over the top of his rivals to win over 1800m at Sandown on January 29.

After weighing up his options, Kent decided to scratch Red Buttons from last Sunday's $50,000 Colac Cup (2000m) in which he was weighted to carry 61.5kg to save him for Hobart.

The gelding was one of four horses Kent entered for Wednesday's $300,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) in which he received topweight of 59kg.

Kent said Ballarat Cup winner My Bentley would represent the stable in the Mornington Cup.

Dream Pedlar, prepared at Longford by Troy Blacker, won two races in Victoria last spring, the Gold Nugget (1600m) at Ballarat and the Listed Bendigo Cup (2200m) in which he beat My Bentley by a half-head.

The West Quest six-year-old has continued to race well in his home state winning the Tasmanian Stakes (1600m) and the Devonport Cup (1800m), the latter under 61kg.

He then endured a wide run when a closing second to Hobart Cup rival Forbidden Quest in last Saturday's Ingham JC Cup (2100m) at Elwick.

Craig Williams is after his third Hobart Cup win when he rides Dream Pedlar having guided Offenbach to victory in 2008 and Gotta Keep Cool in 2009.

Brad Rawiller, who rides Red Buttons, is seeking back-to-back Hobart Cups following his win aboard Growl last year.

Despite the scratchings of Victorian-trained gallopers Crabs and Shewan the field has plenty of depth with reigning Perth Cup winner Guest Wing, New Zealander Mr Tipsy and Sydney stayer Bid Spotter engaged.

Apart from Red Buttons, Victoria will also be represented by the Russell Cameron-trained Fast Future, Abitofado (Mike Moroney), Davcon (Heath Conners) and Skystreamer (Tony Vasil).

Since St. Andrews was successful in 2002, the only Tasmanian-trained horse to win the Hobart Cup was Our Dashing Dane in 2005.

Dream Pedlar is at $5.50 with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Red Buttons at $6.50, Mr Tipsy at $7.50, Bid Spotter at $8 and Fast Future at $8.50.

In-form local Organised, going for his fourth straight win, is next best at $9.

Picture: Colin Bull

Mourinho To Make Amends In Derby

Friday, 04 February 2011 02:30

The Peter Gelagotis-trained Mourinho is capable of pulling off a stunning form reversal by winning tomorrow’s $150,000 Group 3 Cadbury Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart according to the stables’ Racing Manager Manny Gelagotis.

After winning impressively at Moonee Valley two starts back, Mourinho finished last behind King Diamond at Flemington and was eased down over the line by apprentice Jason Maskiell.

“It’s a bit mystifying how the race ended up last time at Flemington but he seems to have come through that without any problems,” Gelagotis said.

“He stumbled at the start and seemed a little indifferent in his action so to Jason Maskiell’s credit he didn’t press the button as he realised the horse wasn’t going to be in contention.

“He pulled him out, thinking there was something wrong but we couldn’t find anything.

“He was thoroughly vet checked and had a real searching gallop during the week and that convinced us that we should press on.”

Anthony Darmanin will take the reins tomorrow in the absence of Maskiell who was suspended at Sandown Hillside last Saturday.

Darmanin is no stranger to the Gelagotis stable and boasts a 16% win strike rate aboard Gelagotis’ trained horses since the 2002/03 season.

“We are giving Anthony a chance.”

“Anthony has missed out on some good rides in the better races but he understands where he sits with us at this point in time and with the carnival up and going it was obviously pretty hard to get the services of an A-grade jockey.

“So we really felt, whoever was going there, we wanted to book a rider nice and early on so that we wouldn’t be left without a rider,” he added.

By Irish sire Oratorio, Mourinho is the third foal out of Generous mare Benevolent to race.

Her other two foals, Forest Beauty and Dementieva, have only managed to win a maiden over seven furlongs with their career earnings below $10,000.

Mourinho was purchased for $36,000 at the 2009 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and connections have recouped that initial outlay with prizemoney now in excess of $60,000.

Mourinho is currently rated a $3.40 favourite for the Tasmanian Derby with TAB Fixed Odds ahead of Heez Born Lucky at $3.80 and Ludka at $4.80.

Hobart (Saturday)
Race 6 @ 3:21 - $150,000 Group 3 Cadbury Tasmanian Derby (2200m)

Tempo Key To Skystreamer Cup Hopes

Friday, 11 February 2011 01:44

Apprentice Jason Maskiell believes his mount Skystreamer in this Sunday’s $300,000 Group Three AAMI Hobart Cup (2200m) is a live chance should the race be run at a solid tempo.

“He is probably a top five chance,” Maskiell said of the Tony Vasil-trained five-year-old before adding, “I wish we had a slightly better barrier.”

“If they run along a bit early, which they always do in Tassie in these major cups, hopefully he can slot in somewhere and get home late.

“If it becomes a sit and sprint, he’ll struggle but if it’s a true staying test he’s in with a shot,” he added.

With the likes of multiple country cup winners Dream Pedlar and Red Buttons joined by New Zealand visitor Mr Tipsy, Maskiell is under no illusions as to the challenge that awaits Skystreamer on Sunday.

“Speaking to a few people, they reckon this is the best Hobart Cup field they have ever had which is probably a downside for him.”

“The Launceston Cup (over 2400 metres) might be more his go and hopefully a few go to the Mornington Cup instead.”

Skystreamer resumed with a fast-finishing second behind Foxham at Caulfield over 1400 metres before finishing fifth over a mile at the same venue.

The son of Fantastic Light then finished a credible second behind Spinney on Australia Day at Caulfield over 2000 metres.

Skystreamer is rated a $10 chance with TAB Fixed Odds with Dream Pedlar a $5.50 favourite and Red Buttons next best at $6.50.

He has raced 22 times for three wins and 10 placings with prizemoney standing at $143,847.

Picture: Colin Bull

Weir Claims Thousand Guineas

Thursday, 27 January 2011 12:16

The Victorians dominated tonight’s $30,000 Aceland Stud Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Launceston with Le Bel Away defeating favourite Exchanges.

Trained by Darren Weir and ridden by local leading hoop Brendon Mc Coull, Le Bel Away settled in a midfield position before moving through the field swiftly to lead the field into the straight with a furlong remaining.

The Lee Freedman-trained Exchanges made a late charge but couldn’t overhaul the daughter of Bel Esprit.

Le Bel Away ($5.10) defeated Exchanges ($2.10 fav) by two lengths with Winay Wayna ($57.90) a further 3/4 lengths away in third.

Le Bel Away has raced six times for three wins and a placing with prizemoney now in excess of $45,000.

Picture: Fiona Tomlin