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Stick with the class runners at the top of the weights when looking for Monday’s Group 3 Hobart Cup winner.
Of the 12 runners still in the field after the scratching of Perplexity, four sit inside the handicap and all signs point to the winner likely coming from this quartet.
There is currently a four way battle for favouritism however in assessing the main chances, we’ve come to the conclusion Pelicano is the way to go.After an injury enforced layoff, Pelicano has worked into his latest preparation ideally and was solid last start in the Listed Gosford Cup (2100m).
Earlier in his preparation, the Court Of Jewels gelding held his own in both the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) and also the Summer Cup (2000m).Pelicano has returned a weight adjusted Timeform rating of 113 in his past two outings which has him rating highest amongst this field on 50 day weight adjusted Timeform ratings.
He enters the Group 3 Hobart in good shape, fourth run back from a spell off a short let up.The six-year-old should be somewhere around optimum fitness at this point of his preparation.
He has twice won over distances marginally greater than 2400m and has an excellent record in partnership with jockey Matthew Neilson, having won seven of their 14 starts in partnership with an additional two placings.The pair will have options from barrier 5 having yielded strong results ridden up near the speed and also quietly.
It is largely expected however they will settle prominently from a favourable draw.The Scott Brunton-trained Banca Mo brings a similar profile into the contest.
The Tough Speed gelding has been competitive over unsuitable distances with the latest a half-length second in the Listed Tasmanian Stakes (1600m) at Launceston on New Year’s Eve.His next scheduled start was to be in the Summer Cup (2200m) at this course on January 25.
A late scratching at the barrier, he has since trialled over 1400m on February 3.It means Banca Mo goes into the Hobart Cup 40 days between runs which raises concerns about his fitness.
An 800m distance rise off a near seven week freshen up is hardly ideal for the honest gelding.Banca Mo is a dual winner at this course however and his first look at this approximate trip yielded a dominant success in the 2013 Warrnambool Cup (2350m).
He has drawn favourably for the Hobart Cup in barrier 2 and with fitness queries in mind, jockey David Pires can save ground and also in turn, energy for the final stages.Despite a less than ideal preparation for the event, Banca Mo still has the class to deliver.
Garud is the next elect after a last start sixth at Flemington.The Mike Moroney-trained gelding will have to improve on that run if a Hobart Cup success is to ensue on Monday afternoon however his best figures have the seven-year-old in the thick of things.
Craig Williams riding is a boost to Garud’s Hobart Cup chances as well having won the 2014 renewal with Epingle who claimed the Hobart Cup-Launceston Cup double.Williams also won the 2008 renewal aboard Offenbach and the 2009 Hobart Cup running on Gotta Keep Cool.
An awkward draw isn’t ideal however the son of High Chaparral is another who has shown the ability in the past to perform well from both up near the speed or after being ridden quietly.Outside of Banca Mo, Geegees Blackflash and Iggimacool appear the pair most likely to stave off an interstate raid of the Hobart Cup.
Geegees Blackflash is lining up for his fifth Hobart Cup tilt and claimed the 2012 renewal.The veteran galloper has placed in the past two Hobart Cup renewals and goes into the 2015 running off a win in the Summer Cup (2200m).
The eight-year-old is a marvel and while the form figures he has returned so far this campaign are below his best, the Clangalang gelding has to still be included in calculations.Fifth in the Summer Cup was the Bill Ryan-trained Iggimacool.
The mare was ridden cold and simply got too far back to be a genuine contender over the final stages.Leading Tasmanian jockey Brendan McCoull stays aboard and can make amends on the Savoire Vivre mare here.
