Vasil chases Gold Sovereign Stakes in Hobart
Story By by Peter Staples
Sunday, 17 February 2008:  | | Top local hope Huiskes |
He made the statement after his filly Causeway Queen had just won the Strutt Stakes in Hobart last Monday.
“I am probably more excited about the chances of Apprehend winning the Gold Sovereign next week than I am about this filly winning a black type race today,” Vasil said.
While almost a week has passed, the affable trainer remains upbeat about Apprehend's chances of notching his second win from only three starts.
“Everything is sport-on with the colt and all we need is a safe trip to Tassie and I reckon he'll be hard to beat,” he said today.
“I don't know a lot about the local two-year-olds but this colt's debut win was good and he performed very well when third in a $100,000 Listed race last start at Flemington.”
Vasil was unable to get the colt on a flight into Tasmania so he booked him on the Spirit of Tasmania that will travel the colt by sea across Bass Strait tonight.
The other interstate entries, Mongkut (David Hayes) and Tristasun (Peter Gelagotis) are already in the state.
Mongkut debuted with a fifth in a small field at Sale last Sunday week but his owner Joe O'Neill is quietly confident he can improve enough to be competitive on Sunday.
However, O'Neill is very confident his filly Huiskes, prepared locally by multiple premier trainer Charlie Goggin, can win the race.
Huiskes was a narrow but impressive winner of the Motors Saab Elwick Stakes (1100m) in Hobart on January 27.
“I'm sure Huiskes will appreciate the extra 100 metres and after speaking with Charlie (Goggin) yesterday I am confident she will run a big race,” he said.
Top South Australian jockey Dominic Tourneur will ride in Tasmania for the first time on Sunday and he has picked up the plum ride on Son Of Viscount in the Gold Sovereign.
Son Of Viscount has only started twice for a luckless debut second and a subsequent victory in the Alfa Bowl over Huiskes and Waddington on November 18.
The Troy Blacker-trained colt by Viscount tuned up for Sunday's assignment with an impressive trial on his home track at Longford on Tuesday.
TAB Sportsbet will offer fixed odds wagering on the Gold Sovereign with the opening market expected to be posted at 6pm Friday (February 15).
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