Former Longford jockey Jason Maskiell is hoping a Tasmanian horse can provide him with another city winner at Flemington on Saturday - but he will have some home-state opposition.
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Maskiell will ride promising four-year-old Street Tough for Seven Mile Beach trainer Scott Brunton in the $75,000 Austy Coffey Handicap over 1200m.
Spreyton trainer Liandra Gray has chosen the same benchmark 78 race for her in-form sprinter Liffeybeau's first interstate assignment.
And, Rokeby trainer Ray Worbey will also have a runner in Tough Missile who was beaten only two lengths in an open handicap at the same track a fortnight ago.
Maskiell has ridden Street Tough four times for three wins and a third and considers the gelding one of Tasmania's most promising horses.
"He's a horse on the up and I'd be disappointed if he didn't run in the first four," the jockey said.
"He's drawn 10 but the rail is out nine metres and I reckon they'll go to the outside fence so that barrier should work out OK.
"It's in his favour that he's been up the straight once before and nearly won."
Street Tough had his only interstate run in a $125,000 3YO race at Flemington last July when beaten in a three-way photo finish by Brave Song and Order Of Command.
Brunton decided to switch the horse to his Victorian satellite stable after an easy first-up win over stablemate Uber Ed at Mowbray on May 19.
Uber Ed has since been beaten by a nose at Mornington and is scheduled to race again at Warrnambool on Thursday.
TWO DISQUALIFIED
Brighton harness trainer Christian Salter and registered owner Chris Leahy have been disqualified for 12 months on an animal welfare charge.
The penalties were handed down this week when stewards concluded an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the pacer Madaboutthechase in March.
Stewards said that the horse had been found "in poor body condition with unresolved injuries" and was subsequently euthanized.
As the persons responsible for the welfare of the horse, Salter and Leahy were both charged with failing to care for it properly.
Leahy pleaded guilty and Salter not guilty.
Stewards said that the horse had been injured in a track accident on January 8.
It is understood that it received significant veterinary care up until February 2 when stewards allege the ongoing veterinary consultations stopped and the horse's condition subsequently deteriorated to the point where it became "an emergency veterinary case."
