BLACKER LOOKS TO CONTINUE WINNING RUN
LONGFORD trainer John Blacker has had his share of success in feature races over the years and this season he has taken over the mantle as Tasmania’s “Cups King”.
He began his run in his hometown cup at Longford on New Year’s Day when his former star three-year-old scored an emphatic win in the Longford Cup and six days later he saddled up his former Launceston Cup winner Glass Warrior to win the Brighton Cup at Elwick.
And last Wednesday Swoop Dog was back in the fray scoring a narrow but sound win in the $125,000 Ladbrokes Devonport Cup to give the trainer a clean sweep of the cups run so far this season.
“We’ve had a great start to the season and I’m hoping it continues, especially in the major cups and other feature races,” Blacker said.
Blacker trained 30 winners last season to finish fifth on the trainer’s premiership behind Scott Brunton, who won with 74 wins. But Blacker has already notched 28 winners to be lying second, nine behind Brunton after the first five months of the 2022-23 season.
Based on how he has finished off the past few seasons, the astute mentor could challenge Brunton for this season’s title.
“We don’t set out to try and win a premiership, because that’s a tough ask, but we do try and win as many as we can and if that’s enough to get you the title then so be it,” Blacker said. “We had some nice young ones early but many of them have gone to the paddock but we have a couple that will make an impact.
“Probably our most promising three-year-old suffered a leg injury, so he’ll miss the whole season, but that’s how fickle and unpredictable this industry can be.” Blacker takes Glass Warrior to Elwick on Sunday week for the weight-for-age Summer Cup (2200m) and given how she won the Brighton Cup (2100m) she will most likely start favourite, unless something decent comes from interstate.
“Glass Warrior gets in well at the weights in the Summer Cup because she meets most of those that finished behind her in the Brighton Cup up to 7kg better off under the weight-forage conditions. “The mare has come on since the Brighton Cup and this next start will have her at her top for the Hobart and Launceston cups.” Glass Warrior won the 2021 Launceston Cup in a thrilling three-way photo-finish with only a nose separating the first three across the line.
Glass Warrior races best in Launceston, which is why the Launceston Cup has always been her main mission, but the trainer is already looking beyond that event. “This will be Glass Warrior’s last prep before she is retired to stud, so we might look at taking her as part of a small team of four or five to Melbourne and target a couple of races for each of the team.”
Blacker will produce a half-sister to Glass Warrior in a two-year-old maiden in Launceston on Wednesday night named Island Warrior (FrostedHissy Miss). Island Warrior finished third at her only trial at Longford last week and while she finished almost eight lengths from the winner, Thespian Waters, the grey filly has taken great benefit from the outing, according to her trainer.
WE’VE HAD A GREAT START TO THE SEASON JOHN BLACKER