HOBART Cup winner Hurdy Gurdy Man is almost certain to return from Victoria next week to chase a $100,000 bonus in the Launceston Cup.
Trainer Darren Weir said yesterday that Hurdy Gurdy Man only had to work well tomorrow morning to clinch another trip.
``We'll give him a strong gallop at home and if he pulls up in good order, we'll be back,'' Weir said.
Hurdy Gurdy Man has two kilograms more in next Wednesday's $225,000 Launceston Cup than he carried in Hobart.
However Weir is not fazed by the extra weight, as the horse had carried 59kg at his previous three starts in Victoria.
Rather than leave Hurdy Gurdy Man in Tasmania, Weir took the gelding back to his secondary base at Warrnambool.
``He thrives in that (beachside) environment,'' the trainer said.
A Tattsbet-sponsored bonus offers $50,000 to the trainer and $50,000 to the owner if a horse can complete the Hobart-Launceston cup double.
The last horse to do it was Peter Moody-trained Zacielo in 2004.
Overall, Hobart Cup winners have a poor record in the Launceston Cup in recent years.
Two other Hobart Cup winners are among the 26 Launceston Cup entries.
Last year's winner Geegees Blackflash is topweight with 59.5kg and 2011 winner Bid Spotter has 55kg.
Bid Spotter was trained in Sydney by Graeme Rogerson on his last visit but is now with Toby Edmonds on the Gold Coast.
Edmonds still has not committed to a start but, if Bid Spotter does come, his Hobart Cup-wining jockey Michael Rodd is the likely rider.
The strength of the Launceston Cup entries is emphasised by the fact that five horses have 57kg or more.
They are Tasmania's two best stayers Geegees Blackflash and The Cleaner; Sydney-trained Shadows In The Sun (Anthony Cummings) and Ironstein (Gerald Ryan); and Victorian Shewan (Robert Smerdon).
CUP WEIGHTS (In qualifying order)
Geegees Blackflash 59.5; Shadows In The Sun, The Cleaner, Shewan 57.5; Ironstein 57; Pelicano, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Norsqui 56; Dream Pedlar 55.5; Fieldmaster, Bid Spotter 55; Unoaked, Kutchinsky, Lucky Angel, Zlatan, Catwen Boy, Gee Gees La Quita, Temajim, Readings, Sandeep, Rock Robster, Ollies Gold, Diamonds At Noon, Richoman, Neils Gold, Packedtotherafters 54.
