Jeune's Mark Hunts the Tasmanian Cups Double
- Monday, 24 February 2003 00:00
Top Victorian jockey Stephen Baster will have to
mirror the riding tactics he used to guide Jeune’s Mark to victory in the AAMI Hobart
Cup if he is to emerge victorious in the AAMI Launceston Cup on Wednesday.
Jeune’s Mark drew the outside barrier (17) in the Hobart race and the gelding has again drawn the outside gate (16) in the AAMI Launceston Cup (2400m).
The chances of that happening were remote but what is unique is that Liquid Lunch drew barrier one in the AAMI Hobart Cup and the Pat Hyland-trained gelding also dew the identical barrier for next Wednesday’s big race.
Baster was able to find the lead on Jeune’s Mark in the AAMI Hobart Cup before the field reached the first turn but he may not have it so easy on Wednesday with the run to the first turn a lot shorter on the Mowbray circuit.
Liquid Lunch missed the start slightly in the AAMI Hobart Cup and became cluttered up in the middle stages, so if he is to improve on his seventh in the Hobart race his jockey, Craig Newitt, will be hoping the six-year-old can fly the gates.
Jeune’s Mark stayed in Hobart after his magnificent AAMI Hobart Cup win and his trainer Tony McEvoy reports that the gelding has thrived since the win.
“From all reports from my staff who are with the horse, he has trained on magnificently since the Hobart run and it is all systems go for next Wednesday,” McEvoy said from Adelaide.
McEvoy goes into the AAMI Launceston Cup with a
two-pronged attack. He also will saddle up promising four-year-old Saturday Fever, a
gelding who has been set specifically for the AAMI Launceston Cup.
Saturday Fever showed a lot of promise last season when competitive at Group level and while some may believe he has had a light preparation for this forthcoming assignment, the trainer is confident the horse has what it takes to make an impact at the business end of the race.
Top local rider Stephen Maskiell has been booked to ride Saturday Fever and he is champing at the bit to win another AAMI Launceston Cup to grab the modern day record of four wins, having been successful on Bitter Spring (1991) and aboard St. Andrews in 2000 and last year.
Victorian Noel Callow will partner St. Andrews next Wednesday and it could prove to be a winning combination as St. Andrews was an eye-catching third in the AAMI Hobart Cup last Monday week and the gelding’s trainer declared the AAMI Launceston Cup has always been the eight-year-old gelding’s main mission this preparation.
St. Andrews snared the AAMI Hobart-Launceston Cups double last year to become the first since Brallos in 1977 to achieve the remarkable feat.
Half the field of 16 in this year’s AAMI Launceston Cup are from interstate and all but one, Cocorico, also contested the AAMI Hobart Cup.
Cocorico failed last start in Melbourne but there were excuses as the horse was galloped on from behind but his trainer Barry Barnes says the horse has fully recovered and will go into next Wednesday’s race at his peak.
The Mighty Lions was a fast-finishing second to Jeune’s Mark in the AAMI Hobart Cup and this mare’s trainer Mike Moroney is determined to win one of Tasmania’s feature cups.
Moroney’s Imax was placed in last year’s AAMI Hobart and Launceston Cups and The Mighty Lions’ luckless second in Hobart last Monday week prompted Moroney to say: “What do I have to do to win one of these races here in Tasmania?”
The David Hall-trained Arena Valadora is likely
to start favourite on the strength of the four-year-old’s impressive last-start win
at Flemington.
The gelding has had only 10 starts for five wins and four placings and is being touted as one of Australia’s rising stars in stayer ranks.
South Australian mare Glitzy Guru was a courageous fifth in the AAMI Hobart Cup and this Leon Macdonald-trained mare looms as a definite chance in what appears to be an open AAMI Launceston Cup.
Narre Warren trainer Louise Bonella was pleased with Ascana’s eye-catching run in the Mornington Cup last Wednesday and says the gelding is ready to run the race of his life.
Deloraine trainer Terry Roles will saddle up Father Floyd, Almost Spring and O’Connor Street in the big race.
Almost Spring finished last in the AAMI Hobart Cup but there were excuses for the failure.
“The mare was stirred up by the crowd and activity in the marquees that lined the mounting yard in Hobart and had run her race before she got to the barrier, but I hope it will be a different story on Wednesday,” Roles said.
“Father Floyd has been steadily on the improve and if he finds the form that won him the Tasmanian Derby two years ago he will be right in it up to his neck.”
“O’Connor Street is an honest mare who has been steadily making her way through the classes but she is tough and she loves the Mowbray track,” he said.
Multi cups winning trainer Gary White has two runners in former AAMI Hobart Cup winner Lord Baracus and the lightly raced four-year-old Strait Dash.
Lord Baracus loomed as a winning chance in the AAMI Hobart Cup but faded over the concluding stages and he followed up with a handy run in the weight-for-age Tasmanian St Leger over 2100m in Launceston last Sunday and was doing his best work over the concluding stages.
Strait Dash was runner-up to Us And Maka in the Inglis Jockey Club Cup in January and was a game third in last week’s St Leger and could be the smokey.
Longford trainer John Blacker is expecting his mare Dartington to run a big race. She won the St. Leger last Sunday week for the second year in succession and given her light weight she looms as a definite threat to the more fancied interstate invaders.
Blacker also has Murphy’s Magic in the race and while he is more suited to 2000m, the trainer expects a forward showing. Connections have secured the services of talented Victorian jockey Matthew Gatt for the Cup ride.
PICS - Quentin Lang.
Media Release - AAMI Launceston Cup