Jockey Peter Mertens gives Geegees Blackflash a well-earned pat after his Launceston Cup win yesterday. Picture: WILL SWAN
GEEGEES Blackflash confirmed his status as one of the great Tasmanian horses of the modern era with a dominant win in yesterday's $225,000 Launceston Cup.
A wet track and topweight of 59.5 kilograms failed to stop ``The Flash'' as he powered home two lengths clear of plunge horse Lucky Angel and old stager Dream Pedlar.
Broadmarsh owner Paul Geard cried, Brighton trainer John Luttrell declared it his ``biggest thrill in racing'' and Melbourne jockey Peter Mertens erased the memory of an unlucky second 12 months earlier when his ride came under fire.
``This is why I race all my horses in Tasmania,'' said Geard, who owns 110 thoroughbreds ``at last count.''
``It's just fantastic. They say it's OK for a grown man to cry and I've shed a few tears today.''
Geard races all his horses with his wife Elizabeth and they all have ``Geegee'' somewhere in their name.
``This is a great result for Tasmania and a great result for our trainer,'' the owner said.
``John and his staff have worked their guts out to get this horse right.
``They've been taking him to the beach every second day to change his routine and his trackwork on Saturday morning was his best ever.''
Luttrell admitted that he was ``a bit down in the dumps'' when Geegees Blackflash was beaten in last year's Launceston Cup, after winning the Hobart Cup a fortnight earlier.
``But I was very confident that he would make amends today,'' he said.
``And, this horse is not finished yet. He's still as bright as a button and there's plenty of life left in him.
``I've got no doubt that he could win a good race in Melbourne during the spring.
``Even a Caulfield Cup might not be beyond him.''
Mertens said that Geegees Blackflash was in the best frame of mind before the race that he could remember.
``He can get a bit fired up but today he went around to the barriers without batting an eyelid,'' the jockey said.
``And, we got a perfect run. Coming to the 500m, we hadn't spent a penny.
``Last year, I thought he was going to win easily in the run but he peaked in the closing stages.
``This year, when I went for him, I made sure I went hard and put the result beyond doubt.''
Geegees Blackflash was easy in the betting, drifting from $6 to $8 while runner-up Lucky Angel firmed from an opening quote of $10 earlier in the week to start $6.40.
Dream Pedlar, who has now been placed in the race twice from five attempts, was a $29 outsider.
Hobart Cup winner Hurdy Gurdy Man, chasing a $100,000 bonus, started favourite at $3.70 but bled during the race and was pulled up at the 600m.
