LAST season Geegees Velvet took what seemed forever to break her maiden status that arrived at her sixth race start in Launceston.
Two more unplaced efforts followed before she was sent for well-earned spell.
The break from racing gave her time to grow and she has returned a much stronger and more professional racehorse winning at her only two outings this preparation.
Tonight she is likely to start a warm favourite to win the $50,000 3YO Cup over 1200 metres under lights in Launceston.
Her trainer John Luttrell believes the filly has the ability to win whatever she contests this time in.
“I said last season that this filly would be great at three and so far she hasn’t let me down,” Luttrell said.
“We aimed her at the 3YO Cup as her first main target and depending on how she fares in that we might head to the Tasmanian Guineas over a mile (1600m) on New Year Eve,” he said.
Geegees Velvet, raced by the state’s most prominent owners Paul and Elizabeth Geard, resumed from a spell with a brilliant win in Hobart coming from last on the home turn to score running away in a class one handicap over 1200m.
Just over two weeks ago she returned to Hobart and delivered the goods ahead of last season’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Frolicked and last season’s best juvenile Grand Tycoon.
Geegees Velvet, to be ridden by top apprentice Sigrid Carr, has settled at the rear of the field at both of her outings this time in and connections are likely to try and adopt the same tactics tonight.
The David and Scott Brunton-trained Havana Stash has been impressive in winning two of his three starts this time in with the latest an impressive effort over 1200 metres in Launceston defeating Honey For Us.
His time was good (1.10.57) and he has an ideal barrier draw (3) that should allow rider Brendon McCoull to give the gelding a cozy run just behind the leaders.
Gee Gees Style was the only one to defeat Grand Tycoon last season, scoring narrowly in the last feature 2YO race of the season in Hobart.
The gelding is also trained by John Luttrell and he is predicting the pair can quinella the event.
Frolicked also looms as an each-way chance. The Graeme McCulloch-trained gelding won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last season and he returned to racing with a first-up second to Geegees Velvet in Hobart on November 17.
Inner Warrior won the Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) last season and while his first two runs have been below par, he has been freshened up for this assignment and must be respected.
Sir Joey, a full brother to last season’s best three-year-old Mister John, has had two starts this time in and he should be ready to show his best tonight.
Bernard, Quest Master, Vigilante and Geegees Hot Hussie will be outsiders but they have a genuine chance of winning if they produced their best.
The other feature race on the eight-event card is the Conquering weight-for-age over 1400 metres.
Last year’s winner Geegees Blackflash will go up against Newmarket handicap winner Black ‘N’ Tough and her stablemate Rebel Bride that has won the past two Group 3 Bow
Mistress Trophy races in Hobart and was a dead-heat for fourth in the Newmarket.
Black ‘N’ Tough is likely to start favourite given Craig Newitt has jumped off Rebel Bride to partner the stablemate with Geegees Blackflash and Rebel Bride both on the second line of betting at $4.00 while 2011 Launceston Cup winner Prevailing produced a much improved performance last start and he is quoted at $7 in some markets.
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