Blaze set for more glory

QUALITY sprinter Blaze Forth would only need to hold his present form to notch successive wins in open company on the seven-race program in Launceston tonight.

The John Blacker-trained gelding scored an emphatic win in an open handicap over 1220m in Launceston two weeks ago and tonight’s assignment has similar opposition.

Blaze Forth was being touted as a future Newmarket Handicap contender by his trainer after his last start win and according to Blacker the gelded son of Court Command has trained on since that effort.

“He definitely hasn’t gone backwards since his last win and if anything he has probably improved slightly,” Blacker said.

“There is likely to be good speed in the race with Galeocerdo a natural speedster, so provided the race is run at an honest tempo my horse will be very had to beat. I can’t fault the horse and even though he rises 1.5kg on his last start I still expect him to win.”

Trainer Stuart Gandy will saddle up three in the race — Galeocerdo, Happy Halloween and Geegees Soprano — with the speedy Galeocerdo almost certain to lead with 3kg-claiming apprentice Alexandra Bryan aboard.

Happy Halloween also has natural speed and last-start winner Apriano from the John Luttrell stable also likes to lead.

The Barry Campbelltrained Chillout scored an impressive win over 1200m on Launceston Cup Day, but the best he could do last start, under the same weight he car- ries tonight (59kg), was a fourth behind Blaze Forth, beaten 3.2 lengths.

Blacker also is quietly confident about the winning chances of Welcome Invader in the benchmark 68 handicap over 1600m (race 7) and Jupiter’s Moon in race five, a benchmark 72 handicap over 1400m.

“Welcome Invader won last start over this distance because he loves the trip and the Launceston track and he should get all the favours from barrier two,” Blacker said.

“Jupiter’s Moon returned to form two starts back with a solid win over 1400 metres and last week he was very unlucky not to win again because he had to change course in the home straight and got held up.

“With a 2kg-claiming apprentice on top (Teagan Voorham) from a good gate (barrier six) I would be very disappointed if he didn’t finish top three.”