Deloraine Cup: the tradition races on

First run in 1904, the race shared top billing with the Tasmanian Grand National Steeple on the popular Easter Monday program at Deloraine for 101 years.

However, after the 2005 Deloraine Cup won by Zeva Royale, it was found that the country track did not meet occupational health and safety requirements.

It was closed for racing and one of Tasmania's great sporting traditions was lost.

In 2006, the meeting was moved to Longford and the Deloraine Cup won by Concurrent.

Since then, it's been conducted at Spreyton where the winners have been Caridale, Yep, Wallis and Given Sunday.

There was no Easter Monday meeting last year as Spreyton was closed for the construction of the synthetic track.

Wallis will be back in search of his second Deloraine Cup today - a feat not achieved for more than 20 years.

The last dual winner was the Len Dixon-trained Valid Comment in 1988 and '89.

Several Deloraine Cup winners in the last 50 years have go on to far greater successes, including Vamos, Macdalla, Robin's Boy, Pyrene King, Lord Pascoe, Kubla Khan, Viscount Geoffrey and Inchgower. But, the most famous horse to contest the race in that time did not win. Piping Lane ran second in 1972 just a few months before he won the Melbourne Cup.

Favourite for today's race is likely to be consistent mare Royal Miswaki who has won four of her past six starts for local trainer Michael Trinder.