Banca Mo has been backed into 2015 Launceston Cup odds of $3.40 and could start the Group 3 event at Launceston this afternoon as a narrow favourite.
Banca Mo has been the best-backed runner in 2015 Launceston Cup betting markets. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Banca Mo has not recorded a race win since he took out the 2013 edition of the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2300m) in dominant fashion, but she has performed consistently since she returned to Tasmania towards the end of last year.
The Tough Speed gelding finished in the placings in the Launceston Mitsubishi Weight-For-Age event on December 17 and he went on to finished second in the Listed Tasmanian Stakes (1600m) on December 31 before he finished a tough third behind Geegees Blackflash in the Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) on February 9.
Banca Mo opened at Launceston Cup odds of $4.40, but there has been consistent support for the veteran gelding and he could start at even lower than his current quote of $3.40.
Genuine Lad has remained steady at his current Launceston Cup odds of $3.20 and is still a narrow favourite in the betting market for the race.
The Bill Ryan-trained gelding almost recorded the biggest win of his racing career to date in the Hobart Cup, but was unable to get past veteran gelding Geegees Blackflash in the final stages of the race.
Genuine Lad will meet Geegees Blackflash a kilogram and a half better for his Launceston Cup defeat and has been well-backed to end his eight race streak of minor placings.
Hobart Cup winner Geegees Blackflash will carry the top weight of 60.5 kilograms in the Launceston Cup and has been a big drifter in betting markets for the Group 3 event.
Geegees Blackflash first appeared in the Launceston Cup in 2011 and he finished a close third behind Fast Future before he finished second behind Prevailing twelve months later.
The Clangalang gelding finally broke through for his first win in the Launceston Cup in 2013 and he was far from disgraced when he finished second behind Epingle and Gold To Go in the race last year.
Geegees Blackflash may be an eight-year-old, but he is arguably racing in career best form after taking out the Summer Cup (2200m) at Hobart on January 25 before scoring an impressive win in the Hobart Cup.
The only other horse that is available at single figure Launceston Cup odds with Ladbrokes is Tony McEvoy-trained Pelicano ($8).
Pelicano has been unable to record a race win since he had a bone chip removed from his off-fore sesamoid in April last year and he was slightly disappointing when well-backed in both the Listed Gosford Cup (2100m) and Hobart Cup.
There has been a sprinkling of support for Keukenhof ($41 into $34) and Hugo ($31 into $21), while Iggimacool ($15 out to $17), Ollie’s Gold ($13 out to $17), Another Lad Al ($91 out to $101), Uboa ($101 out to $126), Prom King ($126 out to $151) and Digger’s Dame ($101 out to $151) have all been on the drift.
