Banca Mo can build on a brave Hobart Cup placing when contesting Wednesday’s Group 3 Launceston Cup.
The Scott Brunton-trained stayer was excellent in the Hobart Cup, travelling wide from the mid stages before going on to finish third behind Geegees Blackflash and Genuine Lad.
While beaten 3.7 lengths, there was a lot to like about the performance which came off a 40 day freshen up and rising 800m in trip on his last start.
He would have been in dire need of the hit-out and appears well suited in the Group 3 Launceston Cup on Wednesday.
The gelding should be back up to somewhere near his peak following the outing and gets a noticeable 1.5kg weight swing off the winner Geegees Blackflash.
Banca Mo should settle midfield from barrier 7 hopefully one off the fence with cover.
From there he could be hard to hold out.
The seven-year-old has an excellent record at the track and is also a distance winner.
Scott Brunton isn’t just the form trainer in Tasmania at present but one of the form trainers in Australia this season with his 37 winners coming at a strike rate of well above 20%.
Geegees Blackflash was a bold winner of the Hobart Cup last start, capping off a memorable Hobart carnival for Paul and Elizabeth Geard.
He rises in the weights for the success and meets runner up and third placegetter 1.5kg better at the weights.
From an inside barrier, jockey Sigrid Carr should give the gelding all the favours along the fence.
The jockey has a knack of riding them for luck and pushing out into the clear when she needs to so watch for something similar here.
The old marvel boasts eight wins and 12 minor placings from 24 starts at the course and hasn’t finished out of the money in eight starts at the trip.
A winner of the 2013 Launceston Cup, Geegees Blackflash can win a second here.
Genuine Lad doesn’t know how to run a bad race and almost upstaged Geegees Blackflash in the Hobart Cup.
It was a tremendous performance by the son of Ladoni who travelled wide with no cover throughout.
The determination he showed to keep fighting in the straight was admirable and if the effort didn’t take too much out of him, will be there fighting out the finish again.
Interstate raiders Pelicano and Garud were horribly disappointing in the Hobart Cup, beaten nine and 15 lengths respectively.
They need to improve substantially if they are to be factors in this affair.
Their best figures suggest it is a possibility and with particular emphasis on Pelicano, should be kept safe.
All signs point to a Apple Isle success though in the Group 3 Launceston Cup on Wednesday with Banca Mo the top elect.
