The Launceston Greyhound Club has been fortunate to have attracted 69 nominations for the 2012 Launceston Cup sponsored for the first time by Tasracing.
The eight heats boast the best sprinters in Tasmania as well as a host of top class interstate invaders but not surprising considering it is a Group 2 event with a purse of $40,000 to the winner.
Victoria’s Australian Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Bate has five runners for the Wheeler family from NSW with Radley Bale (Race 6), Shereen Bale (Race 8), Tonneli Bale (Race 3), Carol Allen (Race 7) and David Bale (Race 9) all with genuine winning chances in their respective heats.
But all eyes will be on local champ Rewind from the Morrie Strickland kennel at Bracknell.
The veteran trainer has Rewind (Race 4) at his peak with his latest win in the Group 3 Devonport Cup that followed his game second to Melbourne Cup winner Dyna Tron in the Group 1 Hobart Thousand in December.
Another Victorian trainer Jamie Ennis will load Strong Intention in heat eight (race 10) which has drawn ideally in box one.
Rowella trainer Terry Penny is sure to play a strong hand with his three litter mates in Clyde’s Angel (Race 9),Miss Roman Nose(Race 10) and Penny’s Angel(Race 7, and they are siblings of Rewind.
NSW trainer Steve White has three runners in Paua of Love, Paua of Darkness and Apparently So engaged while Queensland will be represented by the Robert Essex-trained Maywyn A Motza that comes with good recent form at Ipswich.
Penguin trainer Butch Deverell has the brilliant youngster Jethro engaged in heat two (Race 3) which is one of the toughest heats but he is drawn well and only needs an ounce of luck early to be a wining chance.
Other local hopes include Baretta Bee (Ted Medhurst); I’m A Fencer (David Crosswell), Lika Whisper (Brendan Purcell), Custodian (Steve O’Brien), Portrait Ignites (Keith Nichols) and Decembrist (Peter Phillips)