This Cup right for Speedy recovery

A DECISION by trainer Bill Ryan to bypass last Sunday’s Hobart Cup and target the Night Cup in Launceston tonight with his handy galloper Speed Force could pay big dividends.

After a failure in the weightfor-age Summer Cup in Hobart where Speed Force finished fifth behind Eastender, beaten more than five lengths, Ryan changed direction in his quest to win the Launceston Cup.

Speed Force has had one start over the 2100m trip in Launceston for a win and while it may have looked as if the gelded son of Tough Speed didn’t get the trip (2200m) in the Summer Cup, it was more likely to have been the weight conditions and the state of the track that led to his belowpar effort.

“He didn’t handle the track in Hobart in the Summer Cup, so I refused to take him back and switched plan to the Night Cup, which is a much softer and better option,” Ryan said.

“If he wins the Night Cup, as I expect he will, then he gets ballot-free entry into the Launceston Cup and he will be well suited to that race because the 2400 metres won’t bother him.

“The horse is in great shape going into Wednesday night’s race and it will top him off nicely for the Launceston Cup.”

Kenjorwood won a handicap in Hobart last Friday so there might be some doubt about him starting. But connections of Bidirectional have always had this race on the gelding’s agenda.

Bidirectional has had seven starts over the trip in Launceston for three wins and as many minor placings with his regular rider Anthony Darmanin back in the saddle for this assignment.

“Bidirectional has had this race on his agenda from the start of his preparation and his grand final will be the St Leger over 2600m 10 days after the Launceston Cup,” Trinder said.

Kanji looms as a genuine place chance on the strength of his recent efforts in the Devonport Cup where he was equal third and a last-start second to White Hawk in a benchmark 72 over 2100m in Launceston three weeks ago.

La Dernier Fille raced in Hobart on Sunday for a second over 1600m to Agree To and while it would be a big ask for her to back up in three days over this trip she has a bit of class about her and she didn’t have a tough run in Hobart.

If Sentry Duty found form he would be a place chance and Century Arrow is being tried at the trip for the first time. But he raced in Hobart on Sunday for a fifth of six, though he never handled the Hobart track conditions.