America running into the picture for cups

SPREYTON trainer Glenn Stevenson has his eyes on a major cup for former King Island galloper Mr America after his fourth win in succession in a benchmark race over 1600m in Launceston on Wednesday night.

With talented apprentice Teagan Voorham aboard, Mr America raced outside leader French Connection to the home turn before edging clear and he went on to score by 1½ lengths from Biscay Barb, with Axion a closeup third.

The gelding has been a revelation this preparation, starting with an allthe-way win in a class one handicap over 1400m on October 11 and two weeks later he repeated the dose in a strong class two event over the same trip.

Stevenson stepped him up to 1600m a week later and again he led and held on to defeat Greenmount Lass but this latest effort over 1600m has convinced his trainer that he should be as competitive over longer journeys.

“I’ll see how he comes though this latest run, but I expect he’ll pull up a treat as he always does and he’ll back up in a 2100m race in Launceston next week,” the trainer said.

“The horse is thriving on his racing and every time I step him up in class and or distance he measures up.

“If he handles the 2100m the logical next step is to target one of the minor cups that offers ballot-free entry into the Hobart Cup.

“I knew he had ability but he has surprised me the way he’s stepped up to the challenges this time in.” TOP Tasmanian jockeys Craig Newitt and Brendon McCoull have been selected to represent the newly formed Tasmanian team in the 2017 UBET Origin Jockey Series in Queensland from December 8 to 10.

The OJC is in its third season but this is Tasmania’s first entry.

Racing Queensland chief execu- tive officer Eliot Forbes said it was an easy decision to select Newitt and McCoull to represent the state.

“Craig Newitt and Brendon McCoull are both legends of the Tasmanian racing industry. They were the logical choices to fly the flag for team Tasmania as it makes its Origin Jockey Series debut,” Forbes said.