David's Entire Set for Launceston Arena
- Wednesday, 12 February 2003 00:00
Promising stayer Arena Valadora staked
his claim for a start in the AAMI Launceston Cup with a convincing win in the Shamrock
Travel Handicap over 2000m at Flemington last Sunday.The David Hall-trained four-year-old took his career tally to five wins from only 11 starts and connections confirmed after the race that the AAMI Launceston Cup (2400m) would be the entire’s next main mission.
"We had earmarked the AAMI Launceston Cup as an ideal race for this horse and after this win at Flemington, I can confirm he will be heading to Tasmania for the Launceston Cup on February 26," said trainer Hall.
Arena Valadora was originally handicapped to carry 51kg but the handicapper, Bernie McKay responded swiftly to the stallion’s effortless victory last Sunday by slapping a 1.5kg penalty on Hall’s rising star.
Meanwhile, the connections of Monday’s AAMI Hobart Cup winner Jeune’s Mark have confirmed the gelding will stay in Tasmania to contest the AAMI Launceston Cup.
Jeune’s Mark made a one-act affair of the AAMI Hobart Cup, leading all the way to easily defeat The Mighty Lions and local hero St. Andrews.
It was a masterful ride by Stephen Baster on Jeune’s Mark. He urged his charge forward early from the outside gate but used up little fuel to find the lead and after enjoying a cushy run in front for most of the race the well-bred gelding bounded clear in the home straight and was never threatened.
Jeune’s Mark earned a 2.5kg penalty for the AAMI Launceston Cup and will now carry 54.5kg in that race at Mowbray on February 26.
Meanwhile, last year’s dual AAMI Hobart-Launceston Cups winner St. Andrews will have Victorian Noel Callow as a new rider for the AAMI Launceston Cup.
Callow was booked to ride the eight-year-old gelding before last Monday’s AAMI Hobart Cup in which the gelding was partnered by top local jockey Kelvin Sanderson.
Tasmania’s premier jockey Stephen Maskiell lost the ride on St. Andrews for both Cups two weeks before the AAMI Hobart Cup.
Sanderson said he is disappointed in missing the ride in the Launceston feature race.
"I think the horse needed the run in the AAMI Hobart Cup and he will be at his peak for the AAMI Launceston Cup," Sanderson said.
"I am disappointed that I won’t be riding the horse, but I just want everyone to know that Noel Callow was booked for the ride on St. Andrews in that race before the AAMI Hobart Cup.
"I don’t want anyone thinking that I was dumped from the horse because of a bad ride or something, It was just matter of the trainer wanting Callow on for the Launceston race and he would have been on him even if I had won on Monday," Sanderson said.
First acceptors for the AAMI Launceston Cup.
ST. ANDREWS 58.5
ASCANA 54.5
BRORAMA STAR 53.0
GLITZY GURU 53.0
LIQUID LUNCH 52.5
LORD BARACUS 52.5
SATURDAY FEVER 52.5
JEUNE’S MARK 52.0 plus 2.5kg penalty
MURPHY’S MAGIC 52.0
COCORICO 51.5
PAPPA BEAR 51.5
THE MIGHTY LIONS (NZ)51.5
TIO BELLE (NZ) 51.5
US AND MAKA 51.5
MARETTE 51.0 ** (+0.5)
DARTINGTON 51.0 ** (+0.5)
ALMOST SPRING 51.0 ** (+0.5)
FATHER FLOYD 51.0
TEROUGE 51.0
O’CONNOR STREET 51.0
ARENA VALADORA 51.0 *plus 1.5kg penalty
STRAIT DASH 51.0
UNDERTAKE 51.0
MUCHO DINERO 51.0
SUPER CLASSIC 51.0
I’LL GET BY 51.0
RENT AND RHYTHM 51.0
MR SOHO 51.0
** Denotes Mares Allowance
* Denotes Penalty
Total 1st Acceptances 28
PIC - Quentin
Lang.
Media Release - AAMI Launceston Cup