CONNECTIONS of the Darren Weir-trained Hurdy Gurdy Man will attempt to snare the $100,000 Tattsbet Cups Double Bonus following his win in the AAMI Hobart Cup.
Tattsbet is offering the bonus comprising $50,000 each to the owner and trainer of any horse that can win the Hobart and Launceston cups in the same season.
Hurdy Gurdy Man was amongst the list of 26 nominations for the Group 3 $225,000 AAMI Launceston Cup to be run over 2400 metes at The TOTE Racing Centre on February 27.
Weights for the race will be released next week and providing Hurdy Gurdy Man is not too harshly treated by the handicapper Weir is sure to accept.
Hurdy Gurdy Man carried the minimum of 54 kilograms to victory in the AAMI Hobart Cup but he is sure to be given a penalty for that win.
2011 Hobart Cup winner Bid Spotter has been nominated and given his most recent form the gelding could make an impact if he accepts.
Bid Spotter was trained by Graeme Rogerson when he won the Hobart Cup two years ago but has since been moved on to trainer Toby Edwards.
Top locals Geegees Black\flash and The Cleaner are amongst the nominees as well as three-year-old Ollie’s Gold that is fresh from his Tasmanian Derby victory on February 3.
The Leon Wells-trained mare Unoaked has been nominated and she is guaranteed a start by winning the Night Cup last Wednesday night that offered ballot free entry into the Cup if nominated.
Anthony Cummings has nominated Shadows In The Sun and that horse will almost certainly start in an attempt to make amends for an unplaced effort in the Mornington Cup last Wednesday.
Also out of the Mornington Cup are Ironstein, prepared by Gerald Ryan and the Danny O’Brien-trained Kutchinsky.
| AAMI Launceston Cup (2400 METRES) |
| Of $225,000.1st $135,000, 2nd $40,500, 3rd $20,250, 4th $10,125, 5th $5,625, 6th $4,500, 7th $4,500, 8th $4,500 GROUP 3 Handicap, Apprentices cannot claim. Field Limit: 16 + 5 EM |
| Horse | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
| 1 | BID SPOTTER | Toby Edmonds | 94 |
| 2 | CATWEN BOY | Mark Ganderton | 84 |
| 3 | DIAMONDS AT NOON | Bill Cerchi | 74 |
| 4 | DREAM PEDLAR | Troy Blacker | 95 |
| 5 | FIELDMASTER (NZ) | Patrick Payne | 94 |
| 6 | GEE GEE’S LA QUITA | Stuart Gandy | 82 |
| 7 | GEEGEES BLACKFLASH | John Luttrell | 103 |
| 8 | HURDY GURDY MAN | Darren Weir | 96 |
| 9 | IRONSTEIN | Gerald Ryan | 98 |
| 10 | KUTCHINSKY | Danny O’Brien | 88 |
| 11 | LUCKY ANGEL | Tony Vasil | 87 |
| 12 | NEIL’S GOLD | Angela Brakey | 71 |
| 3 | NORSQUI | Walter McShane | 96 |
| 14 | OLLIE’S GOLD | Gary White | 74 |
| 15 | PACKEDTOTHERAFTERS | Adam Trinder | 62 |
| 16 | PELICANO | Tony McEvoy | 95 |
| 17 | READINGS | David Hayes | 80 |
| 18 | RICHOMAN | Mark Ganderton | 73 |
| 19 | ROCK ROBSTER | David Hayes | 78 |
| 20 | SANDEEP | Kerrie Mccarthy | 79 |
| 21 | SHADOWS IN THE SUN | Anthony Cummings | 99 |
| 22 | SHEWAN | Robert Smerdon | 98 |
| 23 | TEMAJIM | Michael Trinder | 81 |
| 24 | THE CLEANER | Mick Burles | 99 |
| 25 | UNOAKED (NZ) | Leon Wells | 84 |
| 26 | ZLATAN | Leigh Childs | 86 |