Genuine Lad turned-the-tables on veteran gelding Geegees Blackflash to win the 2015 Launceston Cup in Tasmania this afternoon.
Jockey Craig Williams steered Genuine Lad to victory in the 2015 Launceston Cup this afternoon. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Genuine Lad had little luck in running when he finished a fast-finishing second Geegees Blackflash in the Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) a fortnight ago, but leading Melbourne hoop Craig Williams settled Genuine Lad in a lovely position just behind the leader Ollie’s Gold in the early stages of the race.
A run opened up for Genuine Lad at the top of the straight and he responded well when asked for an extra effort by Williams to take up the running at the 300 metre mark.
Genuine Lad was challenged by both Banca Mo and Geegees Blackflash in the final stages and the trio pulled well clear of the rest of the field, but Genuine Lad was too strong in the last 100 metres and he outstayed his rivals to record the biggest win of his racing career to date.
Trainer Bill Ryan was thrilled that Genuine Lad was able to breakthrough for a feature race win in his hometown Cup and he revealed that the promising stayer would likely press on to the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 9.
“I am absolutely stoked, it is glorious,” Ryan said.
“Craig rode him an absolute treat, he had a plan, he worked it out and it came off.
“I talked to Craig before the race and I said that I wanted his opinion on where we were going to go after this when he wins and he said Adelaide Cup.”
Williams was having his first ride on Genuine Lad in the Launceston Cup and he was most impressed with the staying effort of the Ladoni gelding.
The leading Melbourne hoop had Genuine Lad under heavy riding a long way from home in the Launceston Cup and Williams believes that based on that performance there is no reason the four-year-old would not run out a strong 3200 metres in the Adelaide Cup.
“I am certainly thrilled to be riding him,” Williams said.
“I got into a lovely position and it took a lot of riding, but he outstayed them and he is tough.
“Definitely, the Adelaide Cup when that question was posed to me I knew what type of horse I was riding today.
“He delivered today and it gives me a great thrill to come back to Tasmania.
“He is a horse going places and he is a good superior stayer.”
Geegees Blackflash loomed on the outside late before the heavy weight of 60.5 kilograms took its toll on the eight-year-old in the final stages, but he was still able to finish in the Launceston Cup placings for the fifth time.
