Distrustful Award delivered a thrilling victory for local racing fans by outpacing a strong Victorian contingent in Wednesday’s $250,000 Launceston Cup.
The former mainland galloper overcame a sluggish start, surging from last to snatch victory and deny the heavily-backed $1.65 betting apps favourite, Promises Kept, while securing a career-highlight win for trainer Peter Luttrell in the 2400-metre Group 3 event.
“When he missed the start, I thought if he places, it’ll be a huge run, but I can’t believe he’s actually won,” Luttrell said.
“When I got him, he had just one win to his name, and now he’s taken out both the Longford Cup and the Launceston Cup.
“I’ve been in the game a long time, and he’s the best horse I’ve trained, so I’m going to enjoy this.”
Previously trained in WA by Grant and Alana Williams, and originally with Paul Preusker in Victoria, Distrustful Award joined Luttrell’s stable last year.
His Launceston Cup triumph marked his fourth career win from 20 starts, boosting his earnings to $249,650, with the $150,000 winner’s cheque adding significantly to his prize money.
The Shamus Award gelding, sent out at $21, edged Promises Kept by half a length, after the latter tracked the pace and was poised to strike under jockey Mark Zahra before being outgunned late.
Another Tasmanian galloper, Kaliuwaa Falls, also starting at $21, finished a close third, a long neck behind the runner-up.
Leading Tasmanian jockey Anthony Darmanin piloted Distrustful Award to victory and was impressed with how the horse finished despite his slow start.
“He makes it tough on himself, but when I saw how easily I was making ground, I thought, ‘I’m a sneaky chance here’,” Darmanin said.
“I knew he’d finish strongly, and he sure did.”
The win made it back-to-back Black Type successes for Darmanin, who earlier steered classy local filly Geegees Mistruth to a commanding win in the $150,000 Group 3 Vamos Stakes (1400m).
The meeting also featured the $125,000 Listed Hellova Street Stakes, won by Durazzo, trained by Barry Campbell. However, the race ended in tragedy when local star The Inevitable suffered a catastrophic injury and was euthanised.