Tasracing

Peter Luttrell is hoping his promising stayer Distrustful Award can measure up in Sunday’s Sydeston Cup (2100m) and win his way into the Group 3, $250,000 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup (2400m) on 26 February.

In his past three runs, Distrustful Award has won a maiden/class 1 (2100m) in Hobart, the Longford Cup (1800m) before a solid seventh at weight-for-age (WFA) in the Summer Cup (2200m) coming from last around the home turn.

“I thought it was a really good run; he bombed the start a bit; he was probably two or three lengths from the second last horse, and he got held up in a bit of traffic coming to the corner, but I thought he whacked away pretty good,” the trainer said.

“A couple of starts ago, he won a maiden/class 1, and here he was running against those sorts of horses at WFA; I was rapt.

“He’s done enormous since he pulled up a treat; I galloped him Wednesday. He galloped sensationally; I’m really happy with him.”

Surprisingly, Distrustful Award has been allocated a weight of 59kg for Sunday’s race, equal to or more than many of his opponents who have won more races and more prize money.

“They gave him 15 (rating) points when he won those two races, and it has put me in an awkward situation. He’s won three races, and he’s basically an Open company horse now; I thought he was badly weighted actually.”

Tasmania’s leading jockey, Anthony Darmanin, will have his first ride on Distrusful Award, Hannah Le Blanc opting to ride in the Northern Territory this weekend.

“He’s riding pretty good at the moment ‘Darma’ so we will see what happens. I’m hoping he can win, but if you look at the weights, Dantes meets him on 4kg better terms, and Sushi Express has won five or six races; touchwood, he can beat them.

“I just thought go to the Sydeston Cup rather than the Hobart Cup, I doubt he could beat those two mainland horses, so we thought we would go there and take the easier option and see what happens after that.

“The Launceston Cup is one option, or maybe give him a break; I don’t want to overcook him, I think he’s a really nice horse, so I want to look after him.”

Luttrell is having a throw at the stumps with his other Cup winner, Pop A Honda, who is just a 52 rater; he also has Streets Ahead in the opening race and veteran Ethical Dilemma in the last, a BM66 Hcp (1200m).

“I was rapt in his last run; he’s been a good old horse to us; he’s still ticking over alright, and he’s probably in a winnable race.”

The other feature races on Sunday are the $85,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic over 1200m, unbeaten Zany Girl will run a short-priced favourite, while Durazzo is likely to be a hot favourite in the $75,000 Magic Millions 3 & 4yo Classic (1400m).

My best bet is Manhattan Nights in the first; he got too far back last week but ran on nicely late, and if he can settle a little closer, he should be hard to beat.

Due to Sunday’s warm forecast of 33 degrees, the race meeting has been brought forward to avoid the peak temperatures. Race 1 is scheduled for 10:43, and the last of nine races at 15:22.