STAR galloper Geegees Blackflash was dubbed the pride of Tasmania after he scored an emphatic win in the $225,000 Group 3 AAMI Launceston Cp over 2400 metres at the TOTE Racing Centre today.
With his regular jockey Peter Mertens aboard the John Luttrell-trained gelding settled midfield and was always travelling comfortably while The Cleaner occupied his customary role of pacemaker.
The Cleaner tried to steal a break on his rivals 500m out but that’s when Mertens called on his charge to get into the race.
So quickly did Geegees Blackflash sprint to the leader he was a length ahead of The Cleaner in the space of 50 metres while the heavily backed Lucky Angel appeared as a genuine winning chance.
But under strong hands and heels riding from Mertens, Geegees Blackflash stuck to his task and went on to defeat Lucky Angel comfortably with the Troy Blacker-trained Dream Pedlar running on well to grab third.
It was Geegees Blackflash’s 14th career win and the winner’s prizemoney took his career stake earnings to almost $800,000, all of which has been won on home soil.
Geegees Blackflash is owned by Paul and Elizabeth Geard and it was an emotion Paul Geard who was unable to hold back the tears after his favourite horse gave him arguably his biggest thrill in racing.
“They say winning a big race can make a grown man cry and that’s what’s happened to me today,” Geard said.
“We won the Hobart Cup last year and that was a great day but this is really special.”
“He ran third in this race three years ago and ran second last year then to come out and win it at his third try and carrying such a big weight is an amazing feat.”
“We have always maintained that we are happy to race in Tasmania but as far as going interstate is concerned all I can say is we will never say never,” he said.
Listen to what trainer John Luttrell had to say about Geegees Blackflash’s Launceston Cup win – CLICK HERE.