In Brief
- Uber Ed can make up for last-start second.
- Trainer confident gelding enters race in top shape.
- Ryan rates Speedonova a top winning chance in race seven.
Premier trainer Scott Brunton will take a strong team to the meeting in Launceston on Wednesday night with Uber Ed rated his best on the eight-race card.
Uber Ed won first-up in a class three over 1200m in Launceston on 18 December and followed up with a last-start second to My Biddy in a benchmark 78 handicap over the same trip just over two weeks ago.
“He laid in about 150 metres from home and that probably cost him the win but in saying that, I was still pleased with his effort,” Brunton said.
“He is a five-year-old that is lightly raced (11 starts) and that’s because of some issues but they are behind him and he goes into this race in great order.
“He will appreciate stepping up to the 1400m and it is the same grade he tackled last start.”
Uber Ed will be ridden in the sixth event on the evening by Georgie Catania who has struck form of late.
“Georgie (Catania) rides this horse in all of his work, she knows him inside out and she is riding better than ever.”
Hellova Street
Hellova Street (Jason Maskiell) winning the Thomas Lyons on Hobart Cup day
Brunton also will saddle up his champion sprinter Hellova Street in the main race on the eight-event card, the Ladbrokes Stakes over 1200m.
The gelded son of Helike hasn’t won since he gave his rivals a galloping lesson in the Listed $100,000 Mowbray Stakes over 1600m in Launceston in February last year.
“Hellova Street is a nine-year-old, but he doesn’t know how old he is and to be honest, I don’t think he has been in better shape this preparation.
“The only slight query is that he is stepping back from 1600m to 1200m, but he has done it successfully in the past.
Hellova Street will be partnered by David Pires, who is a master when handling a front-runner.
“There’s no better judge of pace than Dave Pires, so if he gets to the front on this horse and dictates, he is going to be very hard to run down.”
Speedonova
Speedonova (Raquel Clark) wins an open handicap (1400m) in Launceston
Longford trainer Bill Ryan takes a small team of five to the races that include his handy mare Speedonova that lines up in the Australian Italian Club Open Handicap over 1600m.
Speedonova has been placed at her past three attempts against similar opposition with the latest a fast-finishing second to The Master Speed over 1400m in Launceston.
“Speedonova is in her right race and I would be surprised if she didn’t earn a cheque,” Ryan said.
Stan Tsaikos takes the ride and his style will suit the mare as she needs a strong rider to get the best from the lightly raced six-year-old.
With two early withdrawals, the race has been reduced to a field of six and that should further enhance her winning chances.
Watch Uber Ed finish second to My Biddy at her most recent outing: