In Brief
- Speed Force has to give rivals 6.5kg in Night Cup.
- Trainer confident of success despite big weight.
- This a Launceston Cup warm-up for Speed Force and Settler's Stone.
Carrying top weight is nothing new for quality middle-distance performer Speed Force, so tonight in Launceston the Bill Ryan-trained gelding looms as a top chance to capture another victory over 2150 metres when he lines up in the $30,000 Night Cup.
As the top-rated horse in the field of 10 he carries 60.5kg while the balance of the runners will each go around with only the minimum of 54kg on their backs.
The last time Speed Force went around in a 2100-metre handicap in May last year he won with 60.5kg on his back with Brendon McCoull in the saddle and he defeated Settler’s Stone (54.5kg) by two lengths.
Last season Speed Force ($1.70 favourite for that race) went into that open handicap rock-hard fit but tonight the gelded son of Tough Speed goes into the assignment having raced three times in January, the latest almost four weeks ago.
He goes into tonight’s race on the back of a third in a 700-metre trial on his home track at Longford last week and is currently $2.90 second elect for tonight’s race with Ladbrokes.
“Logically speaking it is not the ideal prep for this Night Cup, but he is a tough old bugger and he loves the Launceston track,” Ryan said.
“I would have liked to have run him in the Hobart Cup but we just ran out of time because he jarred up at Devonport and again in Launceston, so I had to ease off on him.
“Going into this race with only a 700-metre trial under his belt is not ideal but he is very good in himself and the distance suits.
“He has top weight and gives away 6.5kg to the rest of the field but he’s done it before and won.
“Whatever he does tonight I expect he will improve on at his next start in the Launceston Cup.”
Trainer John Blacker saddles up Settler’s Stone ($9.00) and Mag Wheels ($26.00) and he rates Settler’s Stone his best winning chance.
“Settler’s Stone has been aimed at the Launceston Cup and this race tonight is an ideal lead-up to the cup,” Blacker said.
“Speed Force is the horse to beat because he’s so tough but Settler’s Stone is in really good condition and I expect him to improve on what he’s shown of late.
“Mag Wheels is racing well out of her grade but she is very fit and well.”
The Richard Laming-trained Mitrust has been installed favourite ($2.70), based on his last-start fourth to Toorak Affair in the weight-for-age Summer Cup (2200m) in Hobart which he led but was a spent force on straightening.
In his past five starts he has raced in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
Watch Speed Force win over 2150m in May last year.