THE 2016 Betfair Exchange Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival was officially launched at UBET Park Hobart today with the star of the show former champion galloper Geegees Blackflash that was announced as the carnival’s ambassador.
Geegees Blackflash, who has won over $1.2 million in prizemoney, went close to dying on the operating table a few months ago but when he strolled into the mounting yard to face the media it was clear the nine-year-old gelding thought he was there to race.
The TSRC will offer about $2.9 million in prizemoney over the six weeks of the carnival that kicks off today with a nine-race twilight program that includes the $100,000 Tasmanian Guineas and the Brighton Cup that will offer the winner ballot-free entry into the $200,000 Hobart Cup.
Already Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir has confirmed he will be attempting to win his fifth Hobart Cup with one of his promising young stayers while other high-profile Victorian trainers are preparing to send teams for other features during the carnival.
But the locals will again hold their own with this week’s Devonport Cup winner Geegees Goldengirl a chance to capture the UBET Cups Double bonus that offers $100,000 to the connections of any horse that can win the Betfair Exchange Hobart and Launceston Cups in the same season.