MARVELLOUS MARE EYES CUP TRIUMPH

Shady Hustle finished second in last year’s Hobart Cup — but trainer Stephen Lockhart says the mare can go one better in this year’s race

TRAINER Stephen Lockhart is banking on blinkers to help talented stayer Shady Hustle go one better in the Hobart Cup than she did last season.

Shady Hustle finished second to Toorak Affair in the Group 3 event over 2400m, and while the mare’s form this time around is inferior, Lockhart is confident the six-yearold can measure up.

“This will be the first time she has worn blinkers in a race this time in and I am sure it will be of great benefit,” he said.

“She has had a different preparation, and even though she hasn’t won going into Sunday’s race, she has never been better in the coat, and her two track gallops this week have been outstanding.

“I put the blinkers on her for the track gallop at Elwick on Monday and they definitely sharpened her up, and it was the same at Brighton on Friday.”

Shady Hustle has eased to $34, but a bigger price could be offered on race day.

French import Barade, from the Archie Alexander stable, is favourite at $5 ahead of Toorak Affair and Double You Tee at $6, with the Scot Bruntontrained Mandela Effect, second in the weight-for-age Summer Cup over 2200m two weeks ago, next best at $7.50.

John Blacker’s mare Glass Warrior, third in last year’s

Hobart Cup, is being kept safe at $8 after a fast-finishing third in the Summer Cup.

The other interstate raider, Classic Weiwei, from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable, has firmed to $9.

This is the most open Hobart Cup in ages, with the nearcapacity field boasting at least a dozen winning chances.

Brunton is upbeat about Mandela Effect, but also rates his bold front-running grey Sir Simon a top chance if rain comes.

Rain is forecast for Saturday and showers for Sunday, so the $26 on offer for Sir Simon might be trimmed up if the track is downgraded from its soft 5 rating.

The withdrawal of Still A Star from the $150,000 Group 3 Bow Mistress weightfor-age for fillies and mares has seen the Leanne Gaffneytrained Deroche shortened to $1.18 in the field of six.

Mystic Journey remains a $1.45 favourite to win the weight-for-age Thomas Lyons over 1400m for what will be her second start this campaign.

The Adam Trinder-trained mare was beaten by Blaze Forth in the weight-for-age Ladbrokes Stakes over 1200m in Launceston, but meets that runner on similar terms for being beaten less than a halflength.

Brunton’s unbeaten Hela is $1.60 favourite to win the Strutt Stakes over 2100m.