An outstanding field has assembled for the $40,000 Group 2 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup Final on Monday night. Mike Clarke has previewed all eight runners for the feature race to be run at 20:59.
- HIGHLAND WONDER
Began moderately in his heat from box six with a first section of 5.16 before crossing wide in the run to the first turn. He showed terrific mid-race speed down the back straight and ran home in a solid, 11.96 to make the final with the slowest overall time. He is yet to win from three previous attempts off the red box with most of his best times coming from out wide. He could be advantaged by another wide runner in box two but may need to improve on his best sectional times if he is to hold a forward position here.
- QUICK JOEY SMALL
Stepped well from the inside draw last week which enabled him to push past runners and find the front as he raced mid-track to the first bend. He ran a personal best first split of 5.04, lowering his previous best of 5.07 he produced here last month. His wide racing style possibly assists him on the Launceston circuit as he cuts down from mid-track through the turns and his overall time was clearly the quickest of the night. He will need to produce a similar effort early to get room in the run to the turn as he will have good speed coming across from wider draws.
- EAGLES NEST EGG
The Tasmanian bred and owned chaser had a lot of support in his heat after a brilliant trial on the track leading into the series. He did everything right last week after getting plenty of room in the run to the turn in the small field. Coming off a solid effort in the Group 1 National Derby last start he lines up as the third fastest qualifier and has a decent draw close to the fence. The main concern here is Quick Joey Small, who is drawn on his inside, tends to race mid-track early and both ran similar sections in their heats. If he can begin better and cross the inside runners, he is one of the better chances in a terrific final.
- SIBERIA
Recorded his first win since he took out a heat of the Group 3 Devonport Chase in November last year where he also exited the inside box. Had the strongest run home time of all qualifiers producing an 11.87 effort on the way home after holding the front through the first turn. His first and second sections, when compared with the other finalists, were a lot slower and would see him in the last few runners in this Group 2 final. When you add in a difficult draw, he may need some luck in the early stages to enable him to take a forward position.
- FABULOUS BAROQUE
He chased hard recording a smart second section of 17.64 last week on the way to his best overall time by a considerable margin. This could be a result of chasing home a fast, Wynburn Sheean with his trainer declaring he prefers the Hobart track as he tends to wait for runners when he lands in front. He is able to fight on well on the spacious, one-turn Elwick track and his best chance here may be to fill the placings if he can hold a forward spot early.
- WYNBURN SHEEAN
Was bumped early after a decent start in his heat and then had to work very hard to cross two runners and find the fence through the first turn. His first section was 5.07 however he had recorded splits of 4.97 and 5.00 before that effort. The stewards report says he was bumped twice getting over from the widest draw which possibly affected his run home and overall time which was a little slower than his races last month. He may be assisted early by Fabulous Baroque who generally steps well and head towards the rail.
- GOODNIGHT VICKI
The Tasracing Speed Maps indicated Goodnight Vicki had a best first section of 5.09 with an average run of 5.17. This had her near the back of the field, so it was unexpected then when she found the front from a tough draw recording a first split of 5.04 in her heat. She is a winner on the track over the 600m, so she was always going to be tough to beat from there and finished with a smart, 29.78 overall. She will need to produce another fast first section if she is to cross over from a poor, wide draw.
- SPRINT GORDON
Missed the start badly in his heat running clearly the slowest first section of the finalists. It was a little out of character as he had been beginning very well on the track with first splits of 5.05 and 5.07 at his last two races here. He chased hard to record a fast time of 29.83 and he is capable of much better as he showed here last month when he won an Invitation race in 29.58. He was also the fastest qualifier for the Devonport Chase in November last year. The concern here is the poor, wide draw and his preference to race near the fence.
Staking Strategy: It will be no place for the faint hearted in the run to the first turn with the two widest runners in the race having drawn the inside boxes. WYNBURN SHEEAN (6) looks to have the pace to hold out the runners on his outside and may get some assistance early with FABULOUS BAROQUE (5) and EAGLES NEST EGG (3) looking to cross over to the rail. He has shown he is capable of working hard to cross over from wide draws, he is a terrific chaser, and his times suggest he can find the front with a clean run. Betting Plan: WYNBURN SHEEAN (6) 2 units to WIN