LAUNCESTON Cup winner Genuine Lad will leave Tasmania tomorrow bound for Victoria where he will be prepared for a spring campaign in the care of top trainer Robert Smerdon.
Genuine Lad was one of the stars of the Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival finishing second in the Hobart Cup before ending his summer campaign with an emphatic win in the $200,000 Betfair Launceston Cup at the end of February.
The Bill Ryan-trained and part-owned gelding was expected to tackle the Mornington Cup won by another Tasmanian Banca Mo but the development of boils on his whither prevented the gelding from making the trip.
“Genuine Lad had two months off and he will head to Robert Smerdon’s stable for a campaign in Melbourne in about three months,” Ryan said.
Ryan was keen for the horse to be given a chance to prove himself on the mainland.
“Robert (Smerdon) will be able to give him every chance to see if he is up to being competitive in Victoria.”
“He will map out a few races for him from early September and take it from there.”
“If the horse is up to it he will probably stay over there but if he isn’t then we will just bring him home and have another crack at the major cups here in Tassie,” he said.