Although scratching two of his three runners, trainer John Blacker remains confident of a result in Friday night’s $50,000 Dynamic Finance Brokers Tasmanian St Leger (2400m) in Launceston.
Blacker won the race in 2025 with Zulu Angel and has decided against defending his title with that horse, instead looking at options interstate.
“We took Zulu Angel out because there’s a good race at Caulfield for him next week, a benchmark 84 over 2400m,” Blacker said.
Blacker has also aimed Wineglass Bay at a race in Victoria; he’ll contest the $125,000 Yarra Valley Cup (1950m) on Sunday.
The scratching of that pair leaves Blacker with Vino Novello as his only St Leger runner. The promising four-year-old gelding has won four of his nine career starts, including his most recent run in a BM64 (2100m) on Launceston Cup Day.
“He’s done nothing wrong since his last start, and I think if he had gained a run in the Launceston Cup, he would’ve been very competitive.
“With a bit of pace in the race with the likes of Fast Thinker and General Assembly, I think that Erica (Byrne Burke, jockey) is going to give him a good ride, and I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t run really well.”
After carrying 58.5kg to his win on Cup Day, Vino Novello drops to 54kg in the St Leger, the lightest weight he’s carried in any of his nine starts. He’s drawn barrier three in the field of 11 and is on the second line of betting at $4 behind Distrustful Award at $3.50.
“The topweight (Distrustful Award) is the horse to beat, but with six kilos difference, I think we can beat him.”
It’ll be a busy night at the office for Blacker, who has the biggest team of horses in the state. He has runners in eight of the nine races in Launceston and thinks he can kick off the program on a winning note.
“Unfiltered in the first is one of my best chances for the night. He should’ve finished a bit closer last start, and 1200m will probably suit him better.
“Without having to chase home Barry Campbell’s three-year-old filly (Sanniya), I also think Perola can win the 1100m.”
