The Group 3 Hobart Cup is the feature on Sunday’s 10-race program at Ladbrokes Elwick Park as the Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival marches on.
An exciting field of stayers will step out over the 2400m and punters certainly won’t be short on value with names like Toorak Affair, Barade and Double You Tee making up the top contenders.
We’ve cast our eye across each race and our best bets can be found below!
RACE 1 – 11:05AM AEDT
Miss Enthusiasm has been unlucky not to score in her last two starts finishing runner-up on both occasions with Craig Newitt in the saddle.
She raced on speed and boxed on to finish a length behind Don’tbuckmeoff a fortnight ago over the track and distance and will likely take up a similar run here from another awkward gate.
Miss Matoaka was far from disgraced on debut running fourth over a similar trip at Launceston.
Amancaya is next best if Scott Brunton can offset the wide draw nice and early.
BET: 1 Unit Miss Enthusiasm
RACE 2 – 11:40AM AEDT
Merv Decides hasn’t put a foot wrong so far after filling the minors twice over the 1200m.
The lightly-raced three-year-old hit the line well last time out at this venue and looks more than ready for a breakthrough after drawing favourable in barrier three.
Abbie has mixed her form since returning from a three year layoff last month, but she was competitive over this distance at Launceston first-up finishing fifth to Mariposa.
She gets in nice and light at the weights again and is rock hard fit for two runs back.
Fighting Frank has returned two consistent efforts over the 1400m this time in work and is next best from the inside draw.
BET: 1 Unit Merv Decides
RACE 3 – 12:15PM AEDT
Need A Gin was a winner two runs back at Devonport on the synthetic before making up a ton of ground to finish a very narrow runner-up last time out over the mile at Launceston.
Losing Anthony Darmanin slightly hurts his chances, but the three-week freshen-up should have him ready to fire from a favourable gate.
Dinga’s Delight gets his chance again over the mile after finishing off strongly for fifth first-up at Launceston.
He too comes in off a freshen-up and looks tough to beat with Declan Bates in the saddle for the first time. Two placings from three runs second-up also reads well.
BET: 1 Unit Dinga’s Delight
RACE 4 – 12:50PM AEDT
So Astounding is looking to break his run of recent placings after missing out narrowly to Encosta Fiorente two weeks ago over the track and trip.
The son of So You Think looks set to make amends after racing in much tougher company earlier in his prep and barrier nine should see him enjoy a lovely run just off the speed.
Herman’s Bells has drawn a handy gate looking to improve on his narrow second to Alfie All Talent last time out at Launceston.
He’s clearly looking for the mile now and the booking of Anthony Darmanin commands plenty of respect.
Stelladoni has been around the mark of late and is capable of improving on his last start fifth over the track and trip. Looks a good bet for exotics.
BET: 2 Units So Astounding
RACE 5 – 1:25PM AEDT
This is probably one of the most wide open contests of the day with a case to be made for more than a handful.
Maroch is worth forgiving on his first-up run after over-racing in the early stages and looks set to bounce-back here with a win to his name second-up.
And Beyond comes in off a freshen-up looking to keep his unbeaten record intact after winning comfortably first-up at Launceston in a Class 1.
This is tougher, but after overcoming wide draws in his first two career starts, he should prove tough to hold out here from the soft draw.
Our Shinkansen won her maiden first-up by two lengths over this track and trip and was unlucky not to score last time out when a narrow second to Merciabelle back up to Benchmark grade.
She’s drawn to get all the favours from the inside draw and looks good value to beat home the boys.
The toppy Vallabar won well two runs back over the mile and also scored over this track and trip first-up.
Back to the 1200m looks a nice option for him and he should find this easier down in grade.
BET: 1 Unit Vallabar, 1 Unit E/W Our Shinkansen
RACE 6 – 2:00PM AEDT
All-Star Mile winner Mystic Journey found herself too far back first-up at Launceston in the Ladbrokes Stakes where she was rolled by Blaze Forth as the odds-on favourite.
Despite the result, she still hit the line well to fill the minors and it is no surprise to find her as short as $1.45 after drawing kindly in barrier one.
Her second-up record of three wins from five starts speaks for itself and with some added fitness on her side now, she’s the obvious one to beat.
Stablemate Mystical Pursuit is the main danger after just holding on last time out over the track and trip to win by a nose.
She’s been competitive at Listed level placing twice and is capable of achieving a similar result with a well-timed run off the speed.
BET: No Bet
RACE 7 – 2:35PM AEDT
First contest of the day between the stayers and it’s no shock to find Hela into as short as $1.60.
Scott Brunton’s outstanding filly has risen through the grades with ease winning all four of her starts, but there’s no question this is her toughest assignment to date rising beyond the 2000m for the first time from another awkward draw.
Chequerboard looks the main danger to the favourite making the trip down from Melbourne.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock has filled the minors in three of her five starts this prep and is coming in off a freshen-up following a last start fifth at Flemington over the 2000m.
Daniel Stackhouse holds the key to her after scoring twice aboard the filly last winter. From a much kinder draw, she’s a great value play.
BET: 1 Unit Chequerboard
RACE 8 – 3:11PM AEDT
Deroche couldn’t have been more impressive first-up at Launceston winning the Ladbrokes Lady Lynette by nearly two lengths.
That run suggests she’ll see out the extra 100m just fine on Sunday and the 3.5kg drop from another inside draw only strengthens her chances as she searches for another Group 3 win.
Still A Star capped off her prep this time last year with six wins from seven starts and almost never runs a bad race over this trip.
Four of those wins came at Listed level and her strong first-up record makes her a major threat in this small field.
Street Icon is another one with fresh form and a win wouldn’t surprise with Anthony Darmanin booked to ride.
BET: 3 Units Deroche
RACE 9 – 3:47PM AEDT
Barade has been freshened for his win in the Magic Millions Shoot Out at Eagle Farm last month and has opened as the favourite ahead of the feature.
Archie Alexander’s six-year-old scored a win on Cup Day at Flemington last year and the light weight of Declan Bates only strengthens his chances.
Double You Tee has found the money in back-to-back starts at Flemington and Sandown as he ventures to Tassie for the first time.
The son of Written Tycoon ran third in last year’s Kyneton Cup and the awkward draw should see him doing his best work late.
Mandela Effect has been a good thing beaten in all four of his starts since heading south. He finished off strongly for second last time out in the Summer Cup behind long-priced winner White Hawk, and any added chance of rain only strengthens his chances.
Last year’s winner Toorak Affair is another that likes racing with some sting out of the track, while Eastender could sneak a place with a proven record over this trip.
BET: 2 Units Mandela Effect
RACE 10 – 4:22PM AEDT
Costero can be forgiven for his last start after finding himself too far back over the track and trip.
Before that, John Blacker’s six-year-old rattled off two impressive wins at Launceston and Longford and he does look capable of bouncing back here with Kyle Maskiell back in the saddle.
Elisavet has been around the mark since rising to this grade two runs back.
She finished off well for third out of the same race behind Sir Simon and just needs luck to go her way from out wide.
Coronation Pia also rates highly coming off a narrow win at Launceston over the mile.
The way she finished off suggests she wants further now and the wide draw should see her making up ground late.
BET: 1 Unit Costero