Cup of Dreams for Trinder
SPREYTON trainer Adam Trinder has always had a big opinion of his three-year-old filly City Of Dreams and in Launceston tonight she has the chance to live up to those high expectations in the 3YO Cup over 1200m.
City Of Dreams is unbeaten from two starts, the latest a runaway victory over some talented opposition in a class one handicap over 1100m in Launceston three weeks ago.
She led throughout to defeat Geegees Can Tell and Piped Board, who made the form look good by scoring an impressive win in Launceston last week.
“This is clearly one of the best crop of three-year-olds we have had for some time and the 3YO Cup might have only nine runners but it is full of talent,” Trinder said.
“My filly has done everything we’ve asked of her, from her debut win last season to what she did first-up in a class one three weeks ago.
“Every time I give her a challenge she responds well and I’m hoping it will be the same [tonight].
“There are some who are proven at the 1200m and while my filly has yet to take that step, she will go into the race in top order and I would be very disappointed if she didn’t figure in the finish.”
City Of Dreams has drawn well in gate five which should allow her rider, Anthony Darmanin, to secure whatever spot he desires.
There is no speed inside her so she should be first to the rails and if that eventuates she should be hard to run down.
Derasa comes off a laststart win in the 3YO Vase over 1100m in Hobart where she defeated Gee Gee Lanett after racing outside of that filly for the duration of the race.
Derasa won a class one over 1200m at her first start this season and her trainer Barry Campbell says the filly worked superbly last Satur- day and will go into the race at her top.
Mister Songman started odds-on favourite in the 3YO Vase on November 18 but could only manage third but he was affected by the hot tempo and did not handle the step back to 1100m.
His trainer, Royston Carr, said the You Song gelding would be better suited at 1200m but would most likely be at his best when out to 1600m in the Tasmanian Guineas in the New Year.
The saddle slipped on Gee Gee Lanett 300m from home last start when second to Derasa, beaten a long neck, so her effort was outstanding and she races well in Launceston where she has a win and a second to her credit from three starts.
Last season’s best twoyear-old, Pateena Arena, is afforded top weight owing to her two Listed wins as a twoyear-old but trainer Bill Ryan is quietly confident she will acquit herself well over what he says is an unsuitable distance.
The other feature race on the card is the weight-for-age Conquering Stakes over 1400m with Hellova Street, a recent Group 3 winner in Melbourne, likely to start favourite ahead of Newmarket winner I’m Wesley.