The controversial change of start time for the $250,000 Launceston Cup hasn’t bothered two major players.
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The pair of Darren Weir-trained Cup runners Bondeiger and Andrea Mantegna were cool, calm and collected at their temporary home on Nigel Schuuring’s property at Whitemore on Tuesday.
Arriving on Friday after the ferry ride from Melbourne, the two stallions were quite happy surveying their new Tasmanian territory, surrounded by fellow racehorses, mares and foals.
Darren Weir Racing track rider Bonnie Kingsley said chestnut five-year-old stallion Andrea Mantegna, runner-up in the Hobart Cup, was a little more “outspoken” than fellow bay six-year-old stallion Bondeiger.
The 2014 Victoria Derby runner-up has a reputation of being “pretty chilled”.
Tasmania is familiar territory for Andrea Mantegna, who fought through for second as the favourite in the Hobart Cup earlier this month.
“They’ve both been over to Adelaide recently and had their wins there, in Morphetville,” Kingsley said.
“So they’re pretty versed in the truck … we’re always getting them travelling and out, it just settles them down and teaches them about being calm where ever they are.
“They’re so easy to deal with wherever you take them.”
While punters and fashionistas might be a little unhappy about the 6.14pm start time for the Launceston Cup this year, for the horses it means a few more hours at home before gearing up to work.
“They’ll get fed bright and early, we’ll take them out for a nice spruce-up and a bit of a walk and a pick,” Kingsley said.
“They’ll rest for another couple of hours, be able to eat a little more of their breakfast and we’ll head off to the Cup about 3.30pm or so.”
Despite both being stallions, Kingsley said the pair were completely calm and focused when at the track and in the stables.
But, she said, they knew the difference between a training run and race day.
“They really know, they liven up in the mounting yard – even the quiet ones like Bondeiger probably won’t be so quiet,” she said.
The Launceston Cup will start at 6.14pm, with a full field expected to contest.
