STAR Tasmanian galloper Geegees Blackflash is likely to start a warm favourite in Sunday’s Group 3 AAMI Hobart Cup after drawing a favorable gate at the official Cup barrier draw at Tattersall’s Park this morning (Tuesday).
Geegees Blackflash will start from barrier six in the field of 10 that accepted for the $225,000 Group 3 race over 2200 metres.
The field is evenly balanced with five interstate invaders and as many local hopes.
Geegees Blackflash is unbeaten from four starts this season and there is suggestion that his effortless last-start win in the Summer Cup by six lengths carrying 60kg was enough to prevent many of the original nominees from becoming final acceptors for the Tasmanian Racing Club’s showcase event.
Geegees Blackflash’s co-owner Paul Geard admitted his star galloper’s form this preparation may have forced the connections of some of the interstate nominees to think twice about cross Bass Strait to take on “The Flash”.
The five invaders that accepted are quality gallopers with four of them, Rainbow Styling (Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes), Placement (Danny O’Brien), Viking Hero (Michael Moroney) and Kiwi Roi D’Jeu (Shaune Ritchie) Group 3 placed with Rainbow Styling and Viking Hero also Group 3 winners.
Rainbow Styling drew well in barrier one while Fieldmaster will start alongside in gate two but Viking Hero drew out in gate nine.
The other invaders are Placement (barrier 7) that finished third in the Jockey Club Cup in Hobart last Sunday behind Fieldmaster, Placement was placed in a VRC Oaks while New Zealand gelding Roi D’Jeur (8) has excellent recent form in NZ including a win in the Thames Cup two starts back and last start he was second to Six O’Clock News in the Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) with the winner going on to win the Wellington Cup.
Top Tasmanian jockey Stephen Maskiell has been booked to ride Roi D’Jeu.
The Gary White-trained Mr Isaac fared well with barrier three and his form going into the race is good with a fourth in the Devonport Cup behind Dream Flyer good enough to suggest he will be competitive on Sunday.
Dream Flyer, prepared at Longford by Troy Blacker, will start from barrier four and will again be ridden by Craig Newitt who partnered the gelding into second spot behind Fieldmaster in Hobart last Sunday.
Tasmania’s reigning premier training partnership David and Scott Brunton will saddle up Success Dostta that was placed two starts back and caught the eye when sixth behind Fieldmaster in last Sunday’s Jockey Club Cup.
Geegees Blackflash’s stablemate Jay Bee’s Gee Gee will have to contend with the outside barrier (10) and might struggle to make an impact against some of his better performed rivals.
Listen to what owner Paul Geard had to say about Geegees Blackflash – click here .
AAMI Hobart Cup Field with Barrier Draw and likely riders.
Barrier draw and riders.
1 – Rainbow Styling (1) – Dwayne Dunn.
2 – Geegees Blackflash (6) – Peter Mertens.
3 – Roi D’jeur – (8) Stephen Maskiell.
4 – Fieldmaster – (2) Michelle Payne.
5 – Viking Hero – (9) Damien Oliver.
6 – Dream Flyer – (4) Craig Newitt.
7 – Placement – (7) James Winks.
8 – Success Dostta – (5) ???.
9 – Mr Isaac – (3) Michael Walker.
10 – Jay Bee’s Gee Gee – (10) Robert Thompson.