Racing
Aristopolos kept up to the mark
Tasmania’s best two-year-old, Aristopolos, tuned up for his next race day assignment with an effortless trial win in Launceston on Tuesday morning.
Unbeaten in five starts this season, trainer John Blacker considered running his stable star in a 2YO Handicap (1100m) in Launceston on Good Friday, but he was weighted out of those plans.
"I would have run him on Friday afternoon, but I just thought they gave him a bit too much weight. I was hoping for 61 (kilos)," Blacker said.
Had Aristopolos faced the starter on Friday night, he was allocated 66 kilograms, against a field made up mostly of debutants.
Instead, Blacker will stick with his original plan of running Aristopolos in the $45,000 Alfa Bowl (1200m) at the final Launceston night meeting of the season on 17 April.
"He had three weeks off, and he's been back in since then. Once we knew he was weighted out last night, we said to Erica (Byrne Burke – jockey) to stretch his legs without busting him, as I won't run him Friday."
The most recent of Aristopolos' five wins was the $150,000 Listed Gold Sovereign on 20 February.
Despite not having Aristopolos in Friday afternoon's opening race, Blacker has still accepted with half of the six starters. His contingent was all at the trials on Tuesday morning.
"I think the horse that ran third to Aristopolos, Fierce Spirit, I walked away happy with his trial, and Lauryn (Bingley) was keen to stick with him on Friday."
After tasting interstate success recently with Launceston Cup runner-up Zulu Angel at Caulfield, Blacker is going back to the well this weekend. This time around, he is heading to Caulfield with his St Leger winner, Vino Novello, who will contest a BM78 (2400m).
"Vino Novello is on the ship tonight (Tuesday). He will go straight to Lindsay Park, and his work since the St Leger has been good. I expect him to run well as I think he's a bit sharper horse than Zulu Angel," said Blacker.
The first Good Friday thoroughbred meeting in Launceston was in 2019, and it's become an annual tradition since then. The Tasmanian Turf Club have a range of activities planned for families on track, with the first of nine races scheduled for 13:07.
