Glenn Stevenson holds the key to local hopes in Wednesday’s Launceston Cup and the Wesley Vale horseman is optimistic his two chances will acquit themselves well against a powerful Victorian contingent.
The Stevenson-trained Asva booked his spot in the $250,000 Group 3 with his last-start win in the Sydeston Cup, while Devonport Cup hero Ashy Boy is poised to return to his best.
The Stevenson pair confront Ciaron Maher’s Hobart Cup quinella of Strawberry Rock and Promises Kept, last year’s runner-up Alhambra Lad and the Ken and Kasey Keys-trained Pure Grunt, but Stevenson is happy with the condition of his pair.
“As we know, it’s going to be hard against the mainlanders, but both my horses are going well,” he said.
“Asva, he’s had that nice little gap between runs and I think the 2400 won’t be an issue.
“Ashy Boy, the target for him was the Devonport Cup and we got that done, but then we hit the fence in the Hobart Cup and we’ve had a few little issues, but I think we’ve got him back on track.”
“If we can run in the top four or five I’ll be rapt.”
Asva is the shortest-priced of the seven locals in the 11-horse event at $13 and while his sire Capitalist is not renowned as producer of staying talent, Stevenson said the way he ran out the 2100m of the Sydeston Cup encouraged the team to run.
“I want to see if he can get the distance, I said to the owners I thought he would, and after he won the Sydeston Cup he pulled up really good from it, so we thought we’d have a shot,” Stevenson said.
Craig Newitt retains the ride aboard Asva, who is out in the Dylan Thomas mare First Bloom, in the Launceston Cup, while Codi Jordan will team up with Ashy Boy, a $19 chance.
Top Victorian jockeys Mark Zahra and Damian Lane will be in town, with Zahra to partner Promises Kept in the Launceston Cup, while Stevenson has called on Lane to partner another of his other runners in one of the day’s support features.
Lane will rideFirst Accused in the $125,000 Listed Hellova Street Stakes (1600m), which features Munhamek, who will be ridden by Zahra, and classy locals The Inevitable and Durazzo.
“First Accused it First Accused, if he wants to put in he’s a chance,” Stevenson said. ”
“The Inevitable has won a heap of money, he’s been all around Australia, Munahemk, you look at its record and shake your head, and we’ve got to overcome Durazzao, so I reckon it’s a good race.”
Stevenson’s other runner on the day is Stone Cold Stunner, who takes on classy filly Geegees Mistruth in the $150,000 Group 3 Vamos Stakes (1400m).
