No horse has won the premier fillies' classic and come back the following year to win the Launceston Cup since the Tony Vasil-trained Diamond Bases in 1993.

Shady Hustle is a $9.50 chance to emulate that feat and Brighton trainer Stephen Lockhart is confident she will run her usual honest race.

"She hasn't been far behind Toorak Affair at her past two starts and, if she'd beaten her, she might be the favourite," Lockhart said.

"To be honest, Toorak Affair has had the wood on her the three times they've met - we've had no excuses.

"But I'm just hoping the fact that we now meet her 3kg better might be the turning point.

"She also seems to grow an extra leg at Mowbray, although she hasn't had a lot of racing in Hobart with the track being closed.

"And all her best form is when she gets out over a bit of ground."

Lockhart said he couldn't be happier with Shady Hustle's condition and jockey Bulent Muhcu shares his enthusiasm.

"He's very fond of her - I never thought he'd get over Hot Dipped but he now seems to have a soft spot for this mare as well," the trainer said.

Lockhart would like to see Shady Hustle settle sixth or seventh in the run but will be happy as long as there is a genuine pace.

"I don't really care where she is, as long as it's a truly-run race and she can settle. I don't want her out there tugging."

Shady Hustle, who cost a big group of owners only $3300, has won six of her 14 starts and returned $228,000 in stakemoney.

"You couldn't ask for much more - she's been a great asset for the stable," Lockhart said.

Craig Newitt will be chasing his third Launceston Cup, and his second in a row, on the well-backed Exoteric.

And, he is extremely confident that the seven-year-old will finish in the money.

"He'll run really good," Newitt said.

"He had a while between runs before the Hobart Cup when I thought he was a big chance coming to the home turn.

"He started to fatigue over the last 75-100m but still pulled ground off them.

"They knew he was under-done for that race but I've been told he's absolutely spot on now.

"Of all the horses that ran in the Hobart Cup, he has the most improvement in him.

"And he will need to improve to beat Toorak Affair but I can't see him not finishing top three."

Exoteric raced in England before joining the Chris Waller stable in Sydney.

He was transferred to Charlie Goggin and Luella Meaburn at Seven Mile Beach after being sold to Tasmania.

His new owners include former top jockey Stephen Maskiell who rode three Launceston Cup winners.

Newitt won the Launceston Cup on the Peter Moody-trained Zacielo in 2004 and the Barry Campbell-trained Eastender last year.

Tasmanian star The Inevitable has been weighted on 53.5kg for Saturday week's $1.25 million Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

He is the equal fifth highest-weighted horse in the race which has 30 entries and a 50kg minimum,

Nature Strip is topweight with 58kg.

The Inevitable, trained by Scott Brunton, has won eight of his 11 starts including the $500,000 Silver Eagle at Randwick in October.

He hasn't raced since finishing 12th behind Kolding in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on November 2.

The four-year-old had a barrier trial at Elwick a fortnight ago, when he beat smart sprinter Shot Of Irish by three lengths, and a track gallop at Elwick last Friday when he beat three stablemates by half the length of the straight.

Brunton described the gelding's latest hit-out as "fantastic".

"He pulled up clean in the wind but blew up a little over his back which was to be expected," the trainer said.

"He'll spend the rest of his time (before the Newmarket) at the beach, which is what he likes. He's spot on."

The Inevitable is a $10 chance for the Newmarket with Ladbrokes and on the fifth line of betting behind the Hawkes-trained three-year-old Exceedance at $5.