Launceston Cup Can Launch Eastender To Bigger Goals

3 minute read

Tasmanian trainer Barry Campbell is confident Wednesday’s $250,000 TAB Launceston Cup will launch his progressive stayer Eastender down the same path that led tough stayer Zavite to Group One success a decade ago

Zavite, trained by Anthony Cummings, went from a Launceston Cup win in 2009 to 3200m victories in the Adelaide and Auckland Cups before springing one of the biggest Group One upsets in Australian racing history when, as a veteran 9YO, he won the 2012 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill as a 100/1 chance.

Zavite landed in Tasmania in 2009 as a well-seasoned 6YO with a Group 3 win on his record.

After finishing second in the Hobart Cup (2400m) he won the Launceston Cup (2400m) and Adelaide Cups (3200m) at his next two starts before making his mark in G1 races on both sides of the Tasman over the next two seasons.

Eastender is already doing better than Zavite as the lightly raced 5YO won the G3 Hobart Cup at his latest start at Elwick on February 10 for his third successive win and ninth overall from only 20 starts.

On Wednesday Eastender will attempt to become the fifth horse in 30 years to complete the Hobart Cup/Launceston Cup double, joining Up Cups (2016), Epingle (2014), Zacielo (2004) and St Andrews (2002).

But his bigger challenge is to emulate the grand Tasmanian stayer Brallos by completing the Devonport, Hobart and Launceston Cups treble.

Brallos won the three races in 1976 and did it again in 1977.

History aside, Campbell is already looking beyond Wednesday to next month’s G2 Adelaide Cup over 3200m at Morphettville, a race that could be his entrée to Australia’s biggest staying races as it will qualify him for the Melbourne Cup.

Campbell expects Eastender to maintain his impressive Hobart Cup form on Wednesday to clinch his assault on the Adelaide Cup.

“He’s only a young horse,’’ Campbell said. “He’s been a slow learner.

"He’s going really well but the opposition looks stronger than it was in Hobart, at least on paper.

"In saying that he's a better horse at Mowbray than he is at Elwick and he only goes up half a kilo."

Eastender beat Launceston Cup rivals Lamborghini and Appmat in the Hobart Cup but Wednesday’s opposition comes from some powerful interstate stables including Godolphin (Etymology), the Waterhouse/Bott partnership (Fabrizio) and Melbourne’s Danny O’Brien (Second Bullet).

Craig Newitt retains the ride on Eastender, who rises to 57kg after carrying 56.5kg to win the Hobart Cup on a soft track on February 10.

Newitt won the Hobart Cup/Launceston Cup double riding Zacielo in 2004.

He has won three Hobart Cups but Zacielo is his only Launceston Cup winner.

TAB reports that Etymology has been easily the best supported runner in the Launceston Cup since the fixed odds market opened.

Etymology accounts for over 75 percent of the total investments on the Launceston Cup, firming from $2.80 to $2.50 with Eastender ($4.60) clearly the next best.

“Etymology has been racing in superb fashion so it’s no wonder they have come for him early,” said TAB’s Andrew Georgiou.

“He has racked up three straight wins iand with the James Cummings stable flying, he is a deserved favourite.

“At this stage he his holding nearly 80 percent of the early money.”

LAUNCESTON CUP BETTING

2.50 Etymology

4.60 Eastender

5.00 Lamborghini

7.00 Second Bullet

8.00 Fabrizio

14.00 Appmat

18.00 Speed Force

26.00 Snoano

101.00 Settlers Stone

126.00 White Hawk