Eastender tipped to make it two in a row

TRAINER Barry Campbell is hoping a solid piece of trackwork from his promising stayer Eastender last Saturday was good enough for the gelding to make it back-to-back wins in the $25,000 St Leger over 2650m in Launceston tonight.

Eastender signalled his arrival as a potential star stayer by winning last year’s St Leger as a lightly raced three-yearold. While Eastender has had only six starts this time in, Campbell is hoping his efforts in the Hobart and Launceston cups hasn’t taken too much out of him.

“The horse seems bright and in good order, but you never really know how much tough runs have taken out of a horse until they get into a race,” Campbell said.

“I waited until after he worked at Spreyton last Saturday before making a decision whether or not to run him.

“He worked really well so we committed to the race and if he has taken no harm from both cup runs then I reckon he is definitely the horse to beat.”

Eastender finished seventh in the Hobart Cup but only three lengths from the winner, and he rattled home late to finish a game fifth in the Launceston Cup (2400m) and only 2.3 lengths from the winner, Bondeiger. Craig Newitt retains the ride tonight and he will be keen for the horse to end his campaign a winner.

Premier trainer Scott Brunton will saddle up Volcan De Fuego, which has won two of his only three starts in the state, the past two over 2100m, though in weaker company.

But Brunton suggested after the former Victorian gelding won his first race in the state six weeks ago that the St Leger looked a nice race for the son of Don Eduardo and he has since won again to reaffirm his trainer’s St Leger decision.

The Angela Brakey-trained White Hawk contested a 2100m race in Hobart on Monday, in which he finished seventh of eight, so he is facing a two-day back-up.

King Manu, from the Teagan Keys stable, has notched a win and two seconds from his past three starts over 2100m and gives the impression he will handle the rise in distance.

Former Hobart and Laun- ceston cups winner Up Cups has yet to win beyond 2400m but his efforts in both major cups this season were full of merit so he warrants plenty of respect despite carrying top weight of 59kg. THE other feature race on the seven-event card is a fillies’ and mares’ handicap over 1620m that looks an ideal race for the Brunton-trained Step the Pedal, which comes off a second in the wfa Mowbray Stakes (1600m) behind her stablemate Hellova Street.

At her previous start three days before, Step The Pedal worked home well in the Group 3 Vamos Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares to finish second.

Step the Pedal will carry top weight of 58.5kg, but she is the class runner in the race and should win on exposed form, with Stella Etoille, Tasmanian Oaks placegetter Gone Girl, Secrets She Has and Toorak Affair strong place hopes.