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 2011 Launceston Cup was won by Fast Future from White Yard with Geegees Blackflash third.

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

Launceston Cup info
Date:	Wednesday 29th February 2012
Track:	Launceston racecourse, Launceston
Distance:	2400 metres
Race Type:	Open Handicap
Status:	Group 3
Prizemoney:	$225,000
2011 Winner:	Fast Future

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 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.

Fast Future (2011) ran unplaced in the Hobart Cup prior to winning this event and recent Launceston Cup winners include Larry's Never Late (2010) and Zavite (2009).

2011 Launceston Cup result
1 $13.00 Fast Future 55.5 J Mott
2 $31.00 White Yard 53.0 D Dunn
3 $101.00 Geegees Blackflash 53.0 Ms T Rodder

then followed
4 $16.00 Abitofado 54.0 D Gauci
5 $10.00 Dream Pedlar 59.0 M Guthrie
6 $6.60 Streaky Fella 53.0 D Yendall
7 $61.00 Tibooburra Travis 53.0 A Darmanin
8 $11.00 Davcon 54.0 J Hamer
9 $6.00 Red Buttons 57.5 B Rawiller
10 $10.00 Skystreamer 53.0 J Maskiell
11 $11.00 Organised 53.5 D Pires
12 $31.00 Veloce Cavallo 53.0 Dean Holland
13 $81.00 Beven Heights 54.5 K Sanderson
14 $6.00 Bid Spotter 56.5 M Rodd
15 $51.00 Testasaurus 53.0 Ms C Lindop
16 $201.00 Wallis 53.0 Ms S Brazil

Margins: Neck, Head
Time: 2:30.35

Launceston Cup recent winners & placegetters
Year	Winner	2nd	3rd	Time
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