FORMER Victorian pacer Greysteel signaled his arrival as a genuine Tasmania Cup contender when he powered his way to an impressive win in the $10,000 Launceston Mile at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston last night (Sunday).
Greysteel worked hard three-wide for the first half of the race before receiving cover from Ransom Olds that led the three-wide brigade from the half-way mark.
The favourite Beautide led from the pole position while Dodgermemate camped at his outside while the well-backed Our Chan Of Command settled near the rear from his outside second-row draw (13).
Despite having a tough run early in the race Greysteel unleashed a powerful sprint when driver Mark Yole called on the gelding for the supreme effort nearing the home turn.
“That was just awesome,” Yole said.
Greysteel’s trainer Zeke Slater said the eight-year-old had taken a while to settle in to his new environment.
“I knew I had him right when he ran such a great race in Hobart last week but tonight he convinced me we should progress to the big races so we’ll aim him at the Tasmania Cup next month,” Slater said.
“I’ll run him in the City Of Launceston Cup before the Tasmania Cup,” he said
Slater leases Greysteel from prominent Victorian-based owner-breeder Merv Butterworth who also sent smart mare Queen Of Fire to Slater last year and she was a revelation in Slater’s care.
But when he arrived at Slater’s Brighton stables he had not won a race since scoring at Albion Park in September, 2011, when in the care of John McCarthy.
“Merv (Butterworth) sent me this horse as a replacement for Queen Of Fire but I think this bloke might be a shade better,” he said.
Greysteel covered the 1680-metre trip in 2m.01.5 with a mile rate of 1.56.4.
It was an awesome display and if the grey gelding can deliver that turn of foot in whatever he contests in the coming weeks he is going to be very hard to beat.