THE outcome of the $50,000 GG Horse Stud Summer Cup at UBET Park Hobart today could determine which Tasmanian stayer has the best hope of winning next month’s Betfair Exchange Hobart Cup.
Today’s race over 2200 metres boasts a strong field of potential Hobart Cup prospects including recent Devonport Cup winner Geegees Goldengirl and one of the state’s most promising stayers Player One.
Geegees Goldengirl is proven at 2100 metres as the winner of the Strutt Stakes and Tasmanian oaks last season while Player One also has been placed over the trip but he is racing better than ever this time in.
Corporate fixed odds bookmakers have Geegees Goldengirl installed at favourite at $1.90 while layer One is quoted at $2.80 which seems the better value given his last-start effort when he flashed home from near last in the Brighton Cup to be beaten in a photo-finish behind Up Cups that also contests today’s race.
Up Cups was second in the Longford Cup and made that form look good by winning the Brighton Cup and third placed in the Longford Cup, Lingo, also ran a bottler in the Brighton Cup finishing third so he must be considered an each-way hope today.
The main feature race on the nine-event card is the $100,000 Kevin Sharkie Hobart Guineas over 2100 metres for three-year-olds in which there are two interstate invaders.
Patrick Payne has entered Al Shameel that has been placed second at his past three provincial tracks in Victoria and Cranbourne-based trainer Mick Kent will saddle up last-start Kyneton winner Albion Road that won over 2025 metres to suggest he will handle today’s distance.
However local star Jerilderie Letter that comes off a win in the Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) in Hobart on January 8 gives the impression he will run out a strong 2100m.