The Mighty Jrod, a strong winner at Flemington on Saturday, will be among the interstate entries for next week’s Launceston Cup.
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The $250,000 race is attracting strong mainland interest, with Adelaide-trained Hobart Cup winner Pretty Punk already a confirmed starter.
Early nominations also include former Mornington Cup winner Berisha, trained at Caulfield by John Sadler, and recent Caulfield winner O’Lonera from the Cindy Alderson stable at Cranbourne.
The deadline for entries is noon on Wednesday.
The Mighty Jrod is also based at Cranbourne with Robbie Laing, a multiple group 1-winning trainer of staying races such as the Australian Cup (Roman Arch), Victoria Derby (Polanski) and Adelaide Cup (Pantani).
Laing put Tasmania on The Mighty Jrod’s radar after he led all the way in Saturday’s Japan Racing Association Handicap over 2000m.
The New Zealand-bred stayer ran a close second over the Launceston Cup distance (2400m) at Sandown in December.
Berisha hasn’t won since his 2016 Mornington Cup success but ran second to Folkswood in the Cranbourne Cup during the spring carnival.
Folkswood ran third to Winx and Humidor in the Cox Plate at his next start.
Berisha has had two runs since a let-up and was second in the Colac Cup 10 days ago.
O’Lonera won over 2000m at Caulfield last month and has since been beaten twice in photo-finishes, the latest over 2500m at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
MIRACLE MILE ANNIVERSARY
The running of the $750,000 Miracle Mile at Menangle on Saturday night will be the 50th anniversary of one of Tasmania’s greatest sporting moments.
Back in the days when harness racing had a huge following and the Miracle Mile enjoyed similar status to the Cox Plate, the 1968 winner was Tasmanian legend Halwes.
His time of 1:58.6, although pedestrian by today’s standards, made him the fastest Australian standardbred in history.
It was also a world record for an 800m track.
Harness historian Robin Wilson recalls that the circumstances surrounding the win were also sensational.
“Halwes had just returned from New Zealand where he won three heats of the Inter-Dominion and was a raging favourite for the final, only to be controversially scratched an hour before the race due a split hoof,” Wilson said.
The shoes that Halwes wore for the Miracle Mile were mounted on an engraved plaque and are now in Wilson’s possession.
