The Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival reaches its peak this Sunday with the running of the Group 3 Hobart Cup at Elwick Park.
A quality field of 12 has been assembled for the $250,000 staying feature, headlined by the Freedman-trained Ho Ho Khan.
2019 winner Eastender will also take his place, while there’s also a case to be made for last year’s Launceston Cup winner Glass Warrior as the early market mover.
For thoughts on each runner, check out our 2022 Hobart Cup Preview here!
Ho Ho Khan
Mitchell Freedman’s Kiwi import Ho Ho Khan is back from a freshen-up and on debut in Tassie for the first time.
The seven-year-old son of Mafki ran some big races in Hong Kong earlier in his career, most notably winning the Group 3 Queen Mother in 2019 before running fourth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Case in 2020.
So far, he’s had only two runs in Australia, struggling first-up in the Summer Cup on Boxing Day at Randwick before improving back in grade to win at Caulfield in a BM100.
This is tougher, but given his resume over 2400m and the fact he’s come out and won a trial in between runs, he’s the deserving favourite.
In a Twinkling
In a Twinkling returns from a freshen-up hoping to improve on a strong performance last time out at The Valley for second.
The Fastnet Rock gelding has been up for a while, but he’s held his form nicely to return two placings from his last three starts in Melbourne.
The Lindsey Smith-trained six-year-old has struggled at times over 2400m in the past, but he’s rock-hard fit and should be saving his best for late.
Eastender
Eastender hasn’t tasted a win since he swept the Hobart Cup/Launceston Cup double back in 2019.
He loves it here at Elwick Park, but looks tough to recommend for anything other than a place based on recent form.
Lord Belvedere
Lord Belvedere is tried and true over these staying distances, but does need to improve sharply on his latest effort at Randwick.
Annabel Neasham’s eight-year-old was caught wide and failed to make up much ground carrying 61kg’s in a BM88, but he does tend to do his best racing third-up with four wins to his name from six starts.
This looks tougher, but a place isn’t out of the question.
White Hawk
White Hawk steps out in search of his hat-trick following back-to-back wins against easier company.
With 65 starts to his name, the old boy has won plenty of times here at Hobart in the past, but he’s typically struggled at this level aside from running a place in last year’s Launceston Cup.
He is aided by the soft draw though and the fact Mehmet Ulucinar has ridden him to a pair of wins in the past. Recent form reads well and there’s plenty of value to be had.
Captain Cook
It’s been over two years since Captain Cook last won a race and his recent form suggests he isn’t about to break the drought anytime soon.
The nine-year-old son of Dubawi has finished down the straight in all three of his runs against much easier opposition this time in work.
Glass Warrior
Glass Warrior has mixed her form this time in and appears capable of causing a boil-over similar to her Launceston Cup win last year.
John Blacker’s mare ran a narrow second at Devonport three runs back and was then caught wide in a complete forgive run over further.
She quickly atoned three weeks ago when a clear second to White Hawk over 2200m, a run she can only improve on after bolting in late from midfield.
This is a step up, but she’ll appreciate the 3kg relief at the weights and she does look set to peak now in her fourth run back.
Sh’bourne Renegade
Sh’bourne Renegade is back for another crack after failing to come close to a place in last year’s Hobart Cup.
He quickly put that run behind him though two weeks later when a nose second to Glass Warrior in the Launceston Cup, while his recent form this time in work also reads well.
The son of Wordsmith has finished no worse than fourth since resuming in November, while he’s also tuned up for this with two trials in between runs.
Barrier 12 is the only query, but if Blaike McDougall can get across early, he’ll be strong late.
Creative Hero
Creative Hero is on the quick backup after battling on only fairly for second last week.
The Julie Richards-trained six-year-old has ran okay on a short turnaround in the past, but this is still a big step up to Group level for the first time.
Full Knots Ahead
Full Knots Ahead has found the money in each of his last four starts, including three weeks ago when he ran third to Sunday’s rivals White Hawk and Glass Warrior at weight for age.
He was a back-to-back winner in his two starts prior and loves racing here at Hobart where he’s won four times previously.
The booking of Sigrid Carr warrants plenty of respect and his recent form suggests he’s a winning chance at knockout odds.
Encosta Fiorente
Enocsta Fiorenta has been around the mark, most recently finishing fifth in that same race behind White Hawk and Glass Warrior over 2200m.
She did win over this journey at Launceston back in November but appears fully tested here stepping up in class.
So Astounding
So Astounding finds the money more often than not, but it’s still been over a year since he last won a race.
He was found out late last time out and will only find this tougher.
