Tassie champ wins the Launceston Cup

Wednesday 27 February 2013, 6:06pm

Australia's biggest cup races moved onto the agenda of Tasmania's toughest, most versatile and honest galloper following his win in Wednesday's Group Three Launceston Cup.

Geegees Blackflash added the Cup to a list that includes almost every one of his state's major races over distance ranging from the 1200m of the Newmarket to the Tasmanian Derby and Hobart Cup.

"He's such tough, gallant horse," said winning rider Peter Mertens.

"He wouldn't be out of place in a Caulfield Cup."

The Cup became Geegees Blackflash's 15th win, eight of them in partnership with Mertens.

The win goes down as an all-Tasmanian success with Mertens now based in the island state.

It was also a tribute to the enthusiasm of his dairy farmer owners Paul and Elizabeth Geard and the patience and skill of his Hobart trainer John Luttrell.

The Geards have more than 100 horses in work, all of them carrying some form of the name "Geegee", many of whom are trained by Luttrell who said he had rarely been more confident of a major win than he was on Wednesday.

"I couldn't have been happier with him coming here today," Luttrell said.

"I was laughing to myself all the way to the races.

"I really thought today was his day and I told the owner we'd win him the Launceston Cup.

"He's the best horse we've seen in Tasmania for a long time."

Geegees Blackflash ($8) had finished third to Cup favourite Hurdy Gurdy Man in last Sunday week's Hobart Cup having won a weight-for-age race at the same track at his previous start.

He settled in midfield and Mertens had him travelling comfortably to the home turn.

"I could see The Cleaner up in front and I was about six lengths off him, thinking 'do I go now'," Mertens said.

The answer was yes and the response from Geegees Blackflash was immediate.

"He picked up and just strode into the race at the 500 (metres).

"I was confident of picking up the leaders from there."

Geegees Blackflash went on to score by two lengths from Lucky Angel ($6.50) with Dream Pedlar ($30) 3-3/4 lengths away third.

The favourite and Hobart Cup winner Hurdy Gurdy Man bled and was pulled out of the race at the 600m.

Trainer Tony Vasil, who prepared the Cup runner-up Lucky Angel, made some amends with the victory of Under The Eiffel in the Listed George Adams Plate (1600m).

– AAP

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