3 minute read
What promised to be one of the features on the nine-race card in Launceston on Wednesday night has been turned on its head with the scratching of the undefeated Turk Warrior and smart filly Queenborough Flyer.
In Brief
- Outbound goes into the 1100m 3YO handicap on the back of a trial win.
- Miss Tuppence looms as a logical danger.
- Coeur De Lyon ready to rumble.
The field of five now looks to be a benefit race for three of Adam Trinder's smart three-year-olds in Outbound, Miss Tuppence and Miss Charlie Brown.
Outbound placed second to Turk Warrior in the $150,000 Gold Sovereign in February and at his only start this season he scored a game win in Devonport over 1150m.
The gelded son of Outreach goes into this event on the back of an impressive trial win in Launceston two weeks ago and he has the advantage of a two-kilogram claim for stable apprentice Erica Byrne Burke.
With Turk Warrior scratched, every other runner will carry 54kg with the exception of Outbound and the Terry Evans-trained Need a Flutter that will carry only 50kg courtesy of a four-kilogram claim for fledgling apprentice Taylor Johnstone.
Need a Flutter was impressive in winning a maiden in Hobart (1200m), fighting back after being clearly headed by eventual runner-up Nufen Special.
Miss Tuppence also won a trial over 800m in Launceston on 1 November, which was her first hit-out since she won a BM60 in Devonport in mid-September.
Miss Charlie Brown ran third to Turk Warrior in a trial in Launceston on 1 November and was doing her best work late and that could be the same in this assignment.
The Cameron Thompson-trained Coeur De Lyon was second in a Launceston trial behind Ashmania and that followed a trial win at Longford.
The gelded son of Lionhearted has filled out and looks stronger this time in, so he can't be left out of the main chances.
Last season's best three-year-old Swoop Dog resumes from a lengthy spell in the benchmark 76 handicap over 1200m.
The John Blacker-trained gelding meets a tough field first-up with last-start winners Our Little Ted and Le Cadeau just two that will be vying for favouritism in the field of eight.
Swoop Dog won the Listed Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) and Launceston Guineas (2100m) before finishing third in the Tasmanian Derby and he ended his campaign with an encouraging third behind Newhart and Mandela Effect in the weight-for-age Mowbray Stakes (1600m).
Blacker is pleased with the gelding's progress and was all smiles after he ran home resolutely for third behind Sirene Stryker in an open trial in Launceston just over two weeks ago.
Last-start winner Our Little Ted was impressive the way he finished off to defeat Dark Wanderer by a lip in a BM76 in Launceston two weeks ago and according to his trainer Cameron Thompson, the pocket rocket has come on since that run and meets Swoop Dog seven kilograms better at the weights.