DEVONPORT Cup winner Red Eagle will attempt to convince his owner Shirley Berger that he deserves a crack at the Betfair Launceston Cup when he lines up in the Night Cup over 2100 metres in Launceston tonight.
Red Eagle failed at his only attempt at 2100 metres in Launceston and he goes into this assignment fresh from his Devonport Cup win over 1880 metres five weeks ago.
But he has been set a task with the handicapper allocating the gelding top weight of 59 kg with no claim for his apprentice rider Bulent Muhcu and he has drawn a wide gate (11).
Berger gave her stable star a glowing report yesterday and while she didn’t predict a win she is hopeful Red Eagle can do enough to convince her to progress him to the Launceston Cup in a fortnight.
“I couldn’t be happier with Red Eagle’s condition going into this race but obviously he faces a task with his big weight and wide barrier,” Berger said.
“This is probably more of a conditioning run for him and it will hopefully give me a good guide as to where he’s at from a Launceston Cup perspective,” she said.
Red Eagle finished down the track at his only other attempt at 2100 metres but the trainer says he is a different horse this time in.
“The last time he raced over this distance was back in June last year but he is a much stronger and more experienced racehorse now and I have no doubt he will be able to handle the trip.”
“We are hoping to get to the Launceston Cup over 2400 metres but I haven’t made any firm plans,” she said.
Red Eagle may have won the Devonport Cup but this race is just as tough given his big weight and poor barrier.
The interesting runner is the Adam Trinder-trained Big Time that lines up for his first Tasmanian assignment.
Trinder was looking for a Cups horse and Victorian bloodstock agent Joe Vince guide him to the gelding that was in the care of Chris Waller.
“I was quite leased when this horse came up for sale and within an hour of having him vet-checked we had the sale secured for an undisclosed sum,” Trinder said.
“He won the Gloaming Stakes in Sydney at three and since then he has proven to be quite a progressive stayer.”
“His form in Sydney before coming to me was quite good and I am hoping he proves to be quite competitive at his first start for me,” he said.
The Launceston Cup is Trinder’s first main aim with the gelded son of Danewin that is part-owned by Sydney magistrate Wayne Roser who holds a three-quarter share while Chelsea Goodrick has a 25 per cent interest.
As well as the Night Cup, tonight’s meeting boasts the Tasmanian Magic Millions features for two and three-year-olds with both races open only to graduates of Magic Millions sales.
In the 2YO Classic over 1200 metres the Barry Campbell-trained Lustica is likely to start favourite in the field of seven with strong support expected for the Charlie Goggin and Luella Meaburn-trained Rumeron.
However the 3YO Classic over the same trip is a more wide open affair with Havana Stash and Vigilante from the Dave and Scott Brunton stable to vie for favoritism with Our Casanova, Frolicked and the lightly raced Mensa Magic also expected to have plenty of admirers.