The Launceston Cup is set to have its first capacity field for seven years after 18 horses were paid up as final acceptors for next Wednesday's $250,000 race.
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Two were relegated to emergencies as the field is restricted to 16 runners.
The last time 16 horses contested the race was in 2011 when Victorian visitor Fast Future beat locals White Yard and Geegees Blackflash.
Since then, field sizes have varied from a low of nine in 2012 to a high of 14 in 2013.
There were no surprises at acceptance time, with only Victorian stayer O'Lonera missing from the original 19 entries.
The barrier draw for the 2400m race was to be conducted on Friday night.
Only five Tasmanian-based jockeys have a ride in the race - Siggy Carr, Craig Newitt, Chris Graham, Daniel Ganderton and Troy Baker.
Ben Allen (Pretty Punk) and Damian Lane (Andrea Mantegna) will return from Victoria to be reunited with their Hobart Cup mounts.
Hobart Cup third placegetter Fastnet Dragon will have a new rider, with Victorian Dean Yendall replacing top Sydney jockey Brenton Avdulla.
Victorian apprentice Ben Thompson replaces the injured David Pires on Hobart Cup fourth placegetter Up Cups.
Three Spreyton-based jockeys have picked up a ride.
Craig Newitt will continue his association with Eastender, Daniel Ganderton will be on Victorian stayer The Mighty Jrod and apprentice Chris Graham gets his first Launceston Cup opportunity on Gallow Gate.
FINAL FIELD (with barrier draw)
Race 9 - 6:14PM Sky Racing Launceston Cup (2400 METRES)
Of $250,000.1st $150,000, 2nd $45,000, 3rd $22,500, 4th $11,250, 5th $6,250, 6th $5,000, 7th $5,000, 8th $5,000 GROUP 3
Handicap, Minimum Weight 54kg, Apprentices cannot claim.
Field Limit: 16 + 5 EM
1 0002954x42 BERISHA John Sadler Mark Zahra 11 59kg 98
2 14x4321141 PRETTY PUNK Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas Ben Allen (a) 2 58kg 100
3 1623262412 ANDREA MANTEGNA (USA) Darren Weir Damian Lane 10 55kg 90
4 8x67452325 GEEGEES GOLDENGIRL Stuart Gandy Ms Sigrid Carr 17 54kg 91
5 023x736511 BONDEIGER Darren Weir Regan Bayliss 3 54kg 88
6 x886x73513 FASTNET DRAGON Charlie Goggin & Luella Meaburn Dean Yendall 13 54kg 88
7 0x77008434 UP CUPS Rhonda Mangan Ben Thompson (a) 9 54kg 87
8 1385613618 BRILLIANT JET Aiden Nunn Anthony Darmanin 1 54kg 85
9 1271x41217 EASTENDER Barry Campbell Craig Newitt 5 54kg 82
10 003300x769 SETTLER’S STONE Troy Blacker Damien Thornton 6 54kg 80
11 611211x318 GALLOW GATE John Blacker Chris Graham (a) 14 54kg 77
12 59x1125051 THE MIGHTY JROD (NZ) Robbie Laing Daniel Ganderton 12 54kg 77
13 361222x531 BIDIRECTIONAL Adam Trinder Ms Nikita Beriman 16 54kg 74
14 0x35351206 KANJI Mick Burles Chris Caserta (a) 7 54kg 71
15 6x1x122326 EARL DA VINCI (NZ) Scott Brunton Ms Stephanie Thornton (a) 18 54kg 70
16 2x06697754 SMOKE ’N’ WHISKY John Blacker Troy Baker 4 54kg 69
17e 520x364162 WYUNA Scott Brunton 8 54kg 66
18e 127x735014 STRIKING PROSPECT Gary White 15 54kg 60
UPDATED MARKET
(After barrier draw)
5.00 Berisha, Pretty Punk
6.00 Andrea Mantegna, Bondeiger
9.00 Eastender
11.00 Fastnet Dragon, The Mighty Jrod
15.00 Brilliant Jet
17.00 Settlers Stone
21.00 Geegees Goldengirl, Up Cups
26.00 Eart Da Vincii, Wyuna
34.00 Bidirectional
51.00 Gallow Gate, Striking Prospect
101.00 Kanji, Smoke N Whisky
GREG MANSFIELD selects
1 Andrea Mantegna
2 Berisha
3 Pretty Punk
4 Fastnet Dragon
