The 2020 Launceston Cup headlines a big day of racing on Wednesday and we are set for a very competitive edition of the Group 3 event.
It is Hobart Cup winner Toorak Affair that will start the Launceston Cup as a clear favourite, but she won’t have things her own way in a field that is packed full of quality.
We have analysed the entire field and our complete 2020 Launceston Cup tips can be found below.
Home By Midnight
It has been a while between race wins for Home By Midnight. He found the line fairly in the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup, but he was never really able to get into the race. The wide barrier draw means that he will get a long way back in the run once again and that will make this a tough assignment for the Domesday gelding.
Taikomochi
Taikomochi can turn-the-tables on his rivals in the Launceston Cup. The Snitzel gelding was forced to do plenty of work to find the lead in the Hobart Cup and there was no doubt that told on him late. From barrier five, Adam Hyeronimus won’t have to be as aggressive in the early stages and should be able to control the race. His victory in the Australia Day Cup a couple of starts ago was excellent and a repeat of that effort would make him tough to beat.
Morton’s Fork
Morton’s Fork has had a long campaign and he does look like he is racing a touch on the flat side. He was soundly beaten by Taikomochi in the Australia Day Cup and he was never able to get into the contest in the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup. It is tough to back him in the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup off that effort.
Toorak Affair
Toorak Affair will have the chance to claim a $100,000 Ladbrokes bonus if she is able to complete the Hobart Cup/Launceston Cup double. The Toorak Toff mare showed an excellent turn-of-foot to put away her rivals in the Hobart Cup and there is no doubt that she has gone to another level this campaign. In saying that, she did have every possible favor in the run in the Hobart Cup and she does carry three extra kilos in this contest. She is the horse to beat, but I can’t get her as short as her current quote.
Exoteric
Exoteric looked like a horse whose best days were behind him, but he showed some signs of life to finish a credible fifth in the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup. There is no doubt that he relished the step-up to 2400 metres and he should take good benefit from his run in the Hobart Cup. The wide barrier draw isn’t ideal though and $15 does seem a fair price.
Appmat
Appmat didn’t have a great deal of luck in the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup. In saying that, he has never shown anything to suggest that he is capable of winning a race of this quality. He is one of the outsiders in Hobart Cup betting for a reason.
Dogmatic
Dogmatic failed to fire in the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup after being well-supported in betting and it is tough to back him in the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup off that performance. He is an inconsistent galloper though and he does have the ability to bounce back sharply. Barrier 13 doesn’t help his chances though and $12 is around the right mark.
Gee Gee Fiorente
Gee Gee Fiorente was outclassed in the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup and this isn’t any easier.
Glass Warrior
Glass Warrior doesn’t win out of turn, but she heads into the Launceston Cup on the back of excellent efforts in both the Summer Cup and the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup. She clearly enjoyed the step-up to 2400 metres in the Hobart Cup and she maps to get a lovely run from the inside barrier draw. It is tough to see her winning, but there is no reason that she can’t be in the mix once again.
Pinkeyes Pride
This is a big step-up in class for Pinkeyes Pride after she failed to fire in the Armidale Stud Night Cup. This type of race does seem beyond her.
Settler’s Stone
Settler’s Stone is another galloper that comes out of the Armidale Stud Night Cup. His run in that contest was good, but this race is still much tougher and the wide barrier draw definitely doesn’t help his chances.
Shady Hustle
Shady Hustle is a very consistent mare and she does look as though she is weighted to win the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup. She chased home Toorak Affair in the Brighton Cup and she did the same again in the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup. The Hussonet mare meets her three kilograms better at the weights in the Launceston Cup and her record at this track is excellent. She is right in the race at her current odds of $9.50.
White Hawk
White Hawk heads into the Launceston Cup on the back of a tough win in the Armidale Stud Night Cup. He was no match for Toorak Affair before that in the Brighton Cup and this contest is even tougher.
Vamos Raffa
Vamos Raffa will take on the older horses in the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup following his victory in the Tasmanian Derby. There was plenty to like about the way that he won the Tasmanian Derby, but it wasn’t a vintage edition of that race and I would be surprised if he is able to mix it with the older horses at this level.
Tip: 1 Home By Midnight at $10.00