In Brief
- The pink draw always tough to overcome in Launceston.
- Travel no issue for Caishen.
- Connected potentially the best of the local chances.
Leading Victorian trainer Anthony Azzopardi is remaining optimistic about Caishen’s claims in next Monday night’s $40,000 to-the-winner Group 2 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup Final (515m).
But that optimism did slightly waiver when the 14-time winning son of Fernando Bale and Ready To Riot drew box eight for the group 2 decider … the extreme draw considered something of a “graveyard” at the tricky circuit.
“It’s not a good draw at all but I still think he’s good enough to overcome it,” Azzopardi said.
Six heats of the Launceston Cup were run and won on Monday night with the Azzopardi-trained Caishen clearly setting the time standard with an emphatic 29.41 heat display.
Carving out electrifying sectionals of 4.93s and 17.35s up the back, the recent Paws Of Thunder placegetter cemented favouritsim for the rich final with his commanding 8 ¾ length winning romp.
“We sent him over on the plane to trial and dead set in all my time as a trainer I’ve never had a better traveller,” Azzopardi said.
“We put him in the crate and he laid down and went to sleep. He left Melbourne weighing 28.4 and arrived in Tassie 28.4. He’ll fly back over on Saturday to get ready for Monday. The travel doesn’t worry me at all. He’ll be fine.”
Caishen, a litter-brother to Melbourne Cup winner Whiskey Riot, is the lone interstate runner in Monday night’s Group 2 showpiece.
Connected wins a heat for the Launceston Cup on 10 February
The remaining heats on Monday were annexed by the Ted Medhurst-trained Connected and Mr. Camacho in 29.70 and 30.04, while the Ben Englund-trained Wynburn Lethal showed terrific speed to record an all-the-way 29.66 victory.
The Paul Hili-trained Nitro Sambar took one step closer to claiming the Launceston Cup with a sizzling 29.61 heat win, while in the final qualifier Outlaw Teddy scored decisively in 29.86.
“I had a good look at the heats on Monday night and was impressed with the dog that drew the red in the final (Connected),” Azzopardi said. “I’d say he’ll be the hardest to beat.”
“Drawing the eight is a disappointment but I’m told the six and seven cut to the fence so if he runs his sections from the heats he still should be good enough to lead. His sections on Monday were out of this world. The dog is absolutely thriving.
“It would be great to win the race for (owners) Charlie and Matthew Riccio. After he finished third in the Paws Of Thunder, they actually suggested the Launceston Cup for him so they’re the reason we’re there really.”
Group 2 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup Box Draw:
1. Connected
2. Nitro Sambar
3. Buckle Up Azona
4. Outlaw Teddy
5. Twisted Reality
6. Mr. Camacho
7. Wynburn Lethal
8. Caishen
9. Leica Prayer
10. Definite Signs