Rolling along to settle Lad for Launceston

[Wandering Eyes]

When finishing down the track as the well-supported beaten favourite in the Hobart Cup overs two weeks ago, from trainer to jockey – and punters – they were all disappointed at the outcome of Alhambra Lad’s (NZ) (Proisir) effort that day.

When it comes to the climax of the Tasmanian Summer Carnival, the Gr.3 Launceston Cup (2400m), the Patrick Payne-trained gelding is hoped to be better behaved on Wednesday.

Jockey Jye Mcneil told stewards post-race that the horses pulled too hard throughout the 2400m Group 3 Cup on February 11, which cost the $2.40 favourite any chance of winning.

Launceston Cup favourite, Aurora’s Symphony (Glass Harmonium) took out the Hobart Cup and is shooting to become the first horse in the race’s 160-year history to win the event three times.

Melbourne Cup heroine Michelle Payne has been looking after Patrick’s team in Tasmania and Alhambra Lad will be hoping to cap a feature race double this week after Wings Of Song (Mendelssohn) landed the Listed Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) on Sunday.”

“Coming down and training at a different venue, there was a bit of working out to do,” Michelle said of the change of scene for the six-year-old gelding who won the 2200-metre Summer Cup at Hobart on January 21.

The strong seven-length nature of that win showed something of the added pressure of the Hobart Cup running, and taking on the likes of a seasoned Tasmanian campaigner like Symon Wilde’s Aurora’s Symphony.

Concentration on rolling into a race in training is hoped to make a difference this time.

“We’ve done a few nice rolling canters in Hobart and that will hopefully let him find a rhythm when he gets into the race,” Payne added.

“We can only try and hopefully he’ll settle more.”

Aurora’s Symphony is the $3.30 favourite for the Launceston Cup with Oakleigh Plate-winning rider Harry Coffey aboard the second favourite, Excelleration (Excellebration), at $4.20.

Craig Williams is making the trip to Launceston to ride $4.40 chance Grand Pierro (Pierro) while Alhambra Lad is at $5.

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