Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson is carrying the hopes of the local contingent in Wednesday’s Launceston Cup, and he is confident his two contenders will rise to the challenge against a formidable group of Victorian raiders.
Stevenson’s runner Asva secured his place in the $250,000 Group 3 contest after an impressive victory in the Sydeston Cup, while Devonport Cup winner Ashy Boy is set to bounce back to peak form.
The pair will go head-to-head with a strong field, including Ciaron Maher’s Hobart Cup first and second placegetters, Strawberry Rock and Promises Kept, as well as last year’s runner-up Alhambra Lad and the Ken and Kasey Keys-trained Pure Grunt. Despite the competition, Stevenson is pleased with how his horses are tracking.
“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 currently the shortest-priced of the seven local contenders in the 11-horse field at $13. Although his sire, Capitalist, is not typically known for producing stayers, Stevenson believes Asva’s performance over 2100m in the Sydeston Cup justifies his place in the field.
“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 will once again take the reins on Asva, who is out of Dylan Thomas mare First Bloom, while Codi Jordan is booked to ride Ashy Boy, a $19 chance.
Top Victorian jockeys Mark Zahra and Damian Lane will also be in attendance, with Zahra set to guide Promises Kept in the Launceston Cup. Stevenson has enlisted Lane for another of his runners in a feature race on the card.
Lane will pilot First Accused in the $125,000 Listed Hellova Street Stakes (1600m), which features Munhamek—who will have Zahra aboard—as well as established local stars The Inevitable and Durazzo.
“First Accused is 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. Munhamek, you look at its record and shake your head, and we’ve got to overcome Durazzo, so I reckon it’s a good race.”
Stevenson’s final runner for the day is Stone Cold Stunner, who will take on standout filly Geegees Mistruth in the $150,000 Group 3 Vamos Stakes (1400m).
