Launceston Cup

The Launceston Cup is a Group 3 open handicap race that is held each year on a Wednesday afternoon in February at Launceston racecourse in Launceston, Tasmania. The race is run over a distance of 2400 metres and run under set weight & penalty conditions with prizemoney of $225,000. The 2013 Launceston Cup was won by Geegees Backflash from Lucky Angel with Dream Pedlar third.

One of only three group races held in Tasmania each year, alongside the Gr3 Hobart Cup & Gr3 Bow Mistress Trophy, the Launceston Cup is held during the summer racing carnival in Launceston and is a big affair locally.

Launceston Cup info
Date:	Wednesday 27th February 2013
Track:	Launceston racecourse, Launceston
Distance:	2400 metres
Race Type:	Open Handicap
Status:	Group 3
Prizemoney:	$225,000
2013 Winner:	Geegees Backflash

The Launceston Cup is a major attraction to the city of Launceston, much like the Hobart Cup is to the city of Hobart, and the race itself assembles a field of predominantly local horses along with any mainland horses willing to make the trek to Tasmania to tackle the event.

Most of the time the Launceston Cup is simply a race for handy Tasmanian staying types and the Hobart Cup is the logical lead up race to this event. Fast Future (2011) won this race after finishing unplaced run in the Hobart Cup, while Bid Spotter, who won the Hobart Cup beforehand, finished down the track in this race.

In recent times Zacielo (2004) & St Andrews (2002) both took out the Hobart Cup & Launceston Cup double, while Geegees Blackflash (2013) & Ista Kareem (2008) ran 3rd in the Hobart Cup before going on to win this event. Growl (3rd in 2010) won the Hobart Cup by a big margin before running third in this race at his next start.

Interestingly enough, Norsqui (4th in 2013) wen on to win the Gr3 Adelaide Cup over 3200m at Morphettville after running fourth in this race.

Geegees Blackflash (2013) finished second in this race last year before before returning to score a comfortable win in this event and recent Launceston Cup winners include Prevailing (2012) and Fast Future (2011).

2013 Launceston Cup result
1. $8.00 Geegees Blackflash 59.5 Peter Mertens
2. $6.40 Lucky Angel 54.0 Craig Newitt
3. $29.60 Dream Pedlar 55.5 Brendon McCoull

then followed
4. $11.80 Norsqui 56.0 Chris Symons
5. $7.60 Fieldmaster 55.0 Ms Michelle Payne
6. $89.20 Gee Gee’S La Quita 54.0 Rasit Yetimova
7. $4.50 The Cleaner 57.5 Jason Maskiell
8. $18.10 Ollie’S Gold 54.0 Dwayne Dunn
9. $110.70 Neil’S Gold 54.0 Ms Sigrid Carr
10. $47.80 Richoman 54.0 Ms Clare Lindop
11. $27.20 Unoaked 54.0 Anthony Darmanin
12. $104.60 Sandeep 54.0 David Pires
13. $83.30 Catwen Boy 54.0 Daniel Ganderton
FF. $3.70 Hurdy Gurdy Man 56.0 Glen Boss

Margins: 2 len, 3 3/4 len
Time: 2:34.10

Launceston Cup recent winners & placegetters
Year	Winner	2nd	3rd	Time
2013	Geegees Backflash	Lucky Angel	Dream Pedlar	2:34.1
2012	Prevailing	Geegees Blackflash	Fieldmaster	2:34.0
2011	Fast Future	White Yard	Geegees Blackflash	2:30.3
2010	Larry's Never Late	Dream Pedlar	Growl	1:24.3
2009	Zavite	Centurytwentyone	Itsa Kareem	2:31.2
2008	Ista Kareem	Lady Atire	Our Dashing Dane	2:31.2
2007	Hofmeister	Field Hunter	Emerald Jack	2:28.8
2006	Precise Timing	Aquiline	Mr Buttkicka	2:30.0
2005	Dakasha	Bondy	Under The Bridge	2:32.2
2004	Zacielo	Saturday Fever	Dream Quest	2:32.7
2003	St Andrews	Arena Valadora	Saturday Fever	2:29.2
2002	St Andrews	Bondi Iceberg	Imax	2:31.0
2001	Full Of Rhythm	St Andrews	Naucho	2:45.5
2000	St Andrews	Mt Arthur	Naucho	2:48.5
1999	Streak	Starsphere	Bluetinsk	2:47.2
1998	King's Landing	Prince Baracus	Napier Street	2:42.4
1997	Ticking Away	Vaudeville Piper	L'Espion	2:43.2
1996	Free Beer	Ticking Away	Faveaux	2:48.8
1995	Free Beer	Beloako	Danby Road	2:44.5
1994	Rich Dreams	Eager Prince	Strike High	2:41.5
1993	Diamond Bases	Varo's Last	Clan's Comet	2:46.5
1992	Star Cheers	Pelagic	Russian Rogue	2:42.0
1991	Bitter Spring	Tiendi	Sistino	2:44.4
1990	Down The Pitch	Lady Have A Heart	Daarro King	2:42.7
1989	Shykoski	Brave Trespasser	Clerical	2:43.8
1988	Superior Way	Ivor Capri	Dollar Investment	2:42.1