Aspirate will tackle the $100,000 Launceston Guineas (2100m) on his way to the $150,000 Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Elwick on February 8.

“The Guineas was always going to be weaker than the Derby and is his best chance of winning, especially with no mainland horses in the field,” Hamer said.

“It also helps that The Inevitable is not going to be there either.”

Aspirate does clash with another well-performed horse, Gee Gee Secondover, who is odds-on in the Sportsbet market, but has been well backed to beat him, firming from $3.50 to $3.40.

When the two horses last met in the 1600m Tasmanian Guineas won by The Inevitable, Gee Gee Secondover ran fourth and Aspirate fifth, with only a neck between them.

Hamer believes Aspirate should have finished closer.

“He was running into it until he copped a check at the 200m when Our Long Sali shifted out,” the trainer said.

“He takes a bit of winding up and that stopped his momentum.

“I think he should have finished about a length closer and probably run fourth.”

Hamer is confident Aspirate will be suited by the longer distance of the Launceston Guineas.

“He’ll run 2100m pretty easily,” the trainer said.

“But I am hoping that Red Fiore will run them along a bit – I don’t want a sit-and-sprint race.”

Hamer prepares Aspirate for a big group of owners all associated with the East Devonport Football Club.

The son of Black Caviar’s full brother Moshe has raced only 11 times for three wins and a second.

Two past winners share the backmark for Sunday’s $30,000 Devonport Pacing Cup.

Riverboat Jasper and Star Chamber will both start off 20m in the 3020m discretionary handicap.

Riverboat Jasper won off 10m last year and Star Chamber won off 30m in 2015.

The only other runners off a handicap will be Illegal Immigrant and Isaac on 10m.

The frontmarkers include Black Centurian who has won the St Marys Cup and North Eastern Pacing Cup at his past two starts.

Black Centurian has twice been runner-up in the Devonport Cup – behind Outback Mach in 2016 and Pachacuti in 2017 – and finished fourth last year.

Sunday night’s 10-race card also includes the $12,000 Coastal Pacing Thousand, $12,000 North West Plate final and $12,000 Mares Incentive.