The $30,000 Alfa Bowl will be run as Tasmania's best youngsters count down towards the big races over the Hobart and Launceston Cup carnivals.

 Alfa was unbeaten in Tasmania as a two-year-old under the care of Barry Campbell and he then went on to continue his career with Bart Cummings, winning the Caulfield Guineas in 1996.

Although injury forced Alfa's retirement from racing in 1998 he went on to become a member of Victoria's mounted police section until last year.

The rising 21-year-old now lives in happy retirement at Campbell's Spreyton training establishment and his owner Barry Larter offered to make the gelding available for tonight's special appearance.

Alfa will be in the mounting yard before the race wearing his Caulfield Guineas rug and afterwards he will be available for children to have a free photo taken with him.

Children, eight years and under, are invited to the jockeys' enclosure immediately after the race for the photo opportunity.

Alfa will continue to make the annual trip to Mowbray while his health allows.

The Alfa Bowl has attracted just six runners but there is no discounting their quality.

Brighton-trained Geegees Doublejay has won all of his three starts at Elwick and is suited by the set weight conditions tonight.

Campbell will be represented by Admiral and Jonolly Lass and would dearly love to win the race given his association with Alfa.

Admiral won the first two-year-old race of the season when he was successful at Elwick on October 20 and then after a short break returned and was third behind Geegees Doublejay and Lustica on December 21.

Jonolly Lass showed she was getting close to a win when beaten into second place behind Dont We Love at Devonport on December 8.