FORMER Launceston jockey Luke Currie has enjoyed a successful career in Australia and overseas but one thing that he would like to add to his resume is a win in his home-town cup.
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Currie, 32, will get another chance to achieve that goal at Mowbray today when he rides Victorian lightweight Gold To Go, a $9.50 chance, in the 150th running of the Launceston Cup.
While admitting that he doesn't know much about the Mark Riley-trained mare, Currie has been watching the tapes of her previous starts and expects her to run well.
``It was a good win last start in an ordinary race at Pakenham - she did it very easily,'' he said.
``And, it was over the Launceston Cup distance (2400 metres).
``She's only lightly raced (eight starts) and looks to be on the up.
``With her light weight, she could be a chance.''
Currie came closest to winning the Launceston Cup when second on the David Hall-trained Arena Valadora in 2003.
His mount started favourite but had the misfortune to run into one of Tasmania's greatest ever stayers, St Andrews, who won the race for the third time.
Currie, who moved to Victoria when he started his apprenticeship, scored his first major win in Tasmania on Peter Moody's mare Diamond Cove in the $80,000 Bow Mistress at Elwick in 2008.
His most recent feature-race win was on another Victorian horse, Road Trippin', in the $100,000 Thomas Lyons Stakes at Elwick 12 days ago.
Gold To Go was one of the best-backed runners with Tattsbet yesterday, firming from her opening quote of $12 to $9.50.
Favourite Epingle, to be ridden by top Victorian jockey Craig Williams, has eased slightly from $2.20 to $2.40 and Geegees Blackflash has also drifted marginally from $4 to $4.40.
There has also been money at longer odds for Devonport Cup winner Red Eagle ($23 into $17).