GUN young Tasmanian trainer Zeke Slater will take a two-pronged attack into tonight’s $40,000 Tasmania Cup over 2579 metres at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart.
Slater will hitch up Greysteel and the latest arrival to his stable Motu Crusader and both have drawn the front line in gates six and seven respectively.
Greysteel has been a revelation since joining Slater’s stable two months ago winning the Launceston Mile (1680m) at his fifth start in the state and that was the first of three in succession with the latest a comfortable all-the-way win in the City Of Launceston Cup over 2200 metres at Mowbray last Sunday night.
Moto Crusader arrived in his care just prior to finishing third to Greysteel in last week’s Launceston Cup in which he flashed home from near last to be beaten under a metre.
Slater said he has a leaning towards Greysteel but if Motu Crusader gets the right run he could win without surprising.
“Most trainers are just happy to have one good enough just to be in the race let alone have two with a genuine winning chance,” Slater said.
“Greysteel probably has the edge because he has such a brilliant turn of foot and has the ability to sit outside of the lead and still win, while Motu Crusader is probably going to have to go back from the start from his gate outside of the front line and then be driven for luck,” he said.
Moto Crusader has won some prestigious races interstate and none more so than the Sunshine Sprint over 1660m at Albion Park in Queensland in which he defeated Smoken Up and Terrorway who are considered the best going around this season.
“Motu Crusader is a serious horse and won some top races when he was with John McCarthy and he will be driven tonight by Grant Campbell who travelled to Tasmania last Sunday to drive the gelding in the Launceston Cup.
Both of Slater’s horses are owned by Merv Butterworth who has been sending Slater’s top class horses for the past year.
While Slater’s stable stars are genuine winning chances, the depth of tonight’s field far outweighs the lot that went around last year.
Last year’s winner Heza Trick went on to place third in the Group 1 South Australia Cup before winning the Geelong Cup in February and the Mildura Cup in April but he has not won since from 11 tries and he has drawn the outside of the second row.
Queenslander Jack In Flight has made the trip south for tonight’s race but he would have to do more than he did in last week’s Launceston Cup in which he finished last of 11 if he is to be competitive tonight.
The other local stars that are contenders are Our Sir Jeckyl that has just returned from a successful campaign in New South Wales and the Barry Rattray-trained Beautide also has been racing well at this level and must be considered an each-way prospect.