The Launceston Pacing Club’s premier race, the Easter Cup, is almost here, and several local chances and one interstate hope will have their final public appearance before the cup in the $20,000 Launceston Discretionary (2200m) on Sunday night.
The $75,000 Group 3 Easter Cup will be held on Saturday night, 30 March, with the race to be made up from heats scheduled for next Sunday, 24 March.
Former Tasmanian, now New South Wales-based trainer James Rattray, has left Star Major in the state for the Cup, and he will contest this week’s $20,000 feature.
The eight-year-old gelding comes through the recent Tasmania Cup series in Hobart, where he won the opening heat by 11m before running a game second to Modern Bliss in the Group 1 Final on 2 March after racing outside the leader for the final 1400m.
Todd Rattray, who has been looking after the pacer while in the state, will take the drive on Sunday, where they are one of two runners to start off a 10m handicap, with the other backmarker being the Ben Yole-trained Villacci.
Recent George Johnson placegetter Miss Papenhuyzen, former Tasmania Cup winner The Shallows, and former Victorian pacer Courageous Saint are some of the better front-line hopes.
Sunday’s nine-race card includes the first and final two heats of the Jane Ellen (Fillies and mares) and the final heat of the Sinbad Bay (Entires, colts and geldings). Both races are restricted to Tasbred pacers with two or fewer wins and carry $20,000 Finals on Easter Cup night.
The meeting commences at 17:07. TasracingTV will cover all races while Sky Racing 2 will televise race one with the remaining races on Sky Racing 1.
Recent Launceston Discretionary winners:
2023 Colby Sanz,
2022 Race Deleted,
2021 Sea Double Ugrant,
2020 It Is A Glacier,
2019 The Aussie.
