The $250,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Hobart Cup will be run for the 152nd time in 2026, and after just a field of eight faced the starter in 2025, it’s great to see 13 in the field this year.
Matt Reid has provided his runner-by-runner analysis and assessed prices to a 110% market.
- Bold Soul (8) – Assessed price $3.60 fav
Tasmania has been a happy hunting ground for Bold Soul, winning the Launceston Guineas and Tasmanian Derby as a 3yo. This has been a target for some time, and his run last Saturday at Caulfield looked nothing more than a tick over, hitting the line with the best closing sectionals of the race. He’s proven at the trip, the stable won this race in 2021 with Double You Tee (smashed in betting that day), and the likes of Aurora’s Symphony and Ho Ho Khan have carried big weights to win this race in recent times.
- Taramansour (11) – Assessed price $6
The 9yo spiked out of seemingly nowhere to blitz his rivals in the $300,000 Pakenham Cup two starts ago at the juicy price of $26. Prior to that, he’d been a long time out of the winner’s stall. Like Bold Soul, I think his recent run at Caulfield was with an eye to this race. He does meet key rivals far worse at the weights for recent meetings, but he’ll undoubtedly run the trip, and I think the “fresh” form of the visitors is stronger than those who’ve run in Tassie in the lead-up.
- Bank Maur (7) – Assessed price $11
Bank Maur did as he pleased to win the Summer Cup, doing the damage in the first half of the race when Craig Newitt controlled a slow tempo. He’s the likely leader again here, but it seems unlikely he gets the picnic he did there and is yet to win past 2200m. With 59.5kg, he’s poorly treated at the weights against many of his opposition that come through the Summer Cup.
- Strawberry Rock (13) – Assessed price $20
He won this race last year with 55kg, upsetting his more fancied stablemate. He hasn’t won since then (10 starts ago) and now carries 57.5kg in 2026. He raced in the Summer Cup when he won last year, but has taken a different tack this year, having not raced since a midfield finish in the Bagot on New Year’s Eve. He’s clearly proven at the track and trip, but for me, this Cup is much deeper than the one he won last year.
- Asva (12) – Assessed price $10
The best chance of a Tasmanian-trained winner, in my opinion, Asva is racing at the peak of his powers. He was brilliantly ridden by Kelvin Sanderson to win the Devonport Cup, who jumps back aboard after Codi Jordan did nothing wrong with a perfect transit to run second in the Summer Cup. He’s unproven at the trip, but he looks a different horse now as a 6yo and is clearly better suited under handicap conditions than he was last time out.
- Distrustful Award (1) – Assessed price $22
It was a very welcome return to form for Distrustful Award in last Friday night’s Sydeston Cup, rattling home from well back in the field. To me, that was the ideal performance to suggest he can defend his 2025 Launceston Cup title, and this is another step along the way. He appeared to be a loser from the barrier draw, with apprentice Chloe Wells likely to be buried back in the field given Distrustful Award’s lack of tactical speed.
- Wineglass Bay (4) – Assessed price $17
Wineglass Bay enjoyed a lovely transit in the Summer Cup, finishing third and somewhat atoning for a Longford Cup that may have gotten away after settling too far back in the field. Loves racing at Hobart, where he’s won three of four and seems poised to run a good race with connections sticking with apprentice Jabez Johnstone for his first Hobart Cup ride.
- Ziryab (10) – Assessed price $4.20
A very hard horse to assess. I thought he’d just win the Summer Cup, where he was $3.30 into $2, but he finished well down the track. He was three-wide without cover there, on a day where the rail was dynamite, so was it a bad ride or a bad performance? He’s the weight horse in the race, given he plummets to 54.5kg and has that shorter SP against key rivals. I’m inclined to keep him safe.
- Blonde Star (5) – Assessed price $55
She was the run of the race in the Devonport Cup, having no luck from a wide alley, which told late in the race. I think that was her chance for a big one this campaign, given her love for that track and trip. Now out to 2400m, where she isn’t proven, I’d expect another honest race, but can’t have her as a winning proposition.
- Just A Needs (2) – Assessed price $125
Yet to win past a mile, Just A Needs is now prepared as a stayer, but hasn’t shown she has the credentials to be competitive in a Hobart Cup.
- Ashfall (3) – Assessed price $65
Terrific story with third-generation trainer Ashley Meaburn having a Cup runner at age 24. Outperformed his SP in the Devonport Cup, and things probably haven’t gone to plan in the two runs since. I don’t think the trip will be a problem, which could see him beat a few horses home.
- Zulu Angel (6) – Assessed price $150
He was a bit better in the Sydeston Cup on Friday night but was still safely held and just doesn’t look to be the same horse that won the St Leger last season.
- Iffycould (9) – Assessed price $50
He’s only a Class 2 horse, but I don’t think he’s the worst here. His form can be tied in with Johnnie Pinch, who beat a few of these home on Friday night, and he arguably should have won his last start. Outclassed, but has won out to 2500m and is racing in good form.
