Lighting a fuse for tilt at Cup

Explosive Jack in with shot after derby dominance

TASMANIAN Derby winner Explosive Jack could be back in Tasmania in a fortnight for a tilt at the $250,000 Launceston Cup over 2400m.

Explosive Jack, trained in Victoria by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, was impressive in winning the Derby on Friday over 2200m at Elwick, scoring by almost four lengths, but it could have been further had the rider, John Allen, so desired.

“If the horse continues to thrive after his Derby win, we will consider stepping him up a level in the Launceston Cup,” Maher said.

“We had another race pencilled in for him next month, but the Launceston Cup is definitely tempting.”

In winning the Derby, Explosive Jack gained ballot free entry into the Group 3 Launceston Cup and will get in on the light weight of only 52kg, 2kg below the base minimum for four-year-olds and older.

Last year’s Derby winner, Vamos Raffa, contested the Launceston Cup and finished a game fifth and was considered by many unlucky not to have finished closer to winner Home by Midnight from the Patrick Payne stable.

Payne now has a Hobart Cup to his credit after Tasmanian-bred and owned gelding Double You Tee easily won the Tasmanian Racing Club’s showcase event on Sunday.

The connections of Double You Tee are chasing the Double Cups bonus of $100,000 divided equally between the trainer and owners. THE racing focus moves to Launceston tomorrow night with the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes for two-yearolds the feature on the eight event card.

Glenn Stevenson-trained gelding Turk Warrior will be aiming for three wins in succession and bookmakers are likely to install him a shortpriced favourite to keep his unbeaten record intact.

The other feature race on the program is the Sydeston Night Cup (2100m) in which rising star stayer Supalopo from the Adam Trinder stable will stake his claim on a berth in the Launceston Cup.

The winner of the Night Cup gains ballot-free entry into the Cup, and while Trinder said earlier this season that Supalopo was a candidate for the 2022 event, he has opted to turn the clock forward 12 months.

TRAINER-JOCKEY Siggy Carr will take a small team to Victoria this week for races at Pakenham and Moonee Valley.

Carr said Hannah’s Song, Coronation Glade, Merciabelle and Bandinelli would make the trip with three to race at Moonee Valley on Friday night while Merciabelle will tackle a benchmark 64 over 1200m at Pakenham on Thursday night.

Carr will partner Bandinelli in a BM84 over 955m dash at the Valley on Friday night.