Geegees Blackflash wins 2012 Hobart Cup

Popular local galloper Geegees Blackflash has given Tasmanian trainer John Luttrell and owners Paul and Elizabeth Geard their biggest thrill in racing with victory in Sunday’s Group Three Hobart Cup.

Luttrell, 52, based at Brighton and a trainer for 28 years, said he had felt a fair amount of pressure leading up to the 2200m feature as Geegees Blackflash was after his fifth straight win and started $3.10 favourite.

Bred by the Geards who run a dairy farm at Broadmarsh and have 100 thoroughbreds, Geegees Blackflash has proven he is no ordinary horse.

He won the Group Three Tasmanian Derby as a three-year-old over 2200 metres, the same distance as the Cup.

The five-year-old proved his versatility when he began his winning streak in November by taking out the state’s premier sprint, the Listed Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Launceston.

Geegees Blackflash carried 58kg which was the highest weight shouldered to victory since 1972 Doomben Cup winner Knee High won the 1974 Hobart Cup under 59.5kg.

“I was just trying to look after him and make sure nothing went wrong,” Luttrell said of his best horse.

“I knew how good he was and he’s brought it out and done it again today.

“He’s kept doing it week in week out. I love him to death.”

Ridden by Melbourne-based Peter Mertens, Geegees Blackflash became the first Tasmanian horse to win the race since outsider Our Dashing Dane in 2005 when he scored by three-quarters of a length from Viking Hero with Dream Flyer a nose away third.

“He’s got a brilliant turn of foot for a stayer,” said Mertens who has been on him in his five straight wins.

Geegees Blackflash was only the second local in 30 years to win as favourite, the other being Brorama Star at $4.50 in 2001.

“He’ll go to the Launceston Cup now as long as the handicapper only give him a kilogram or so penalty and then he’ll go to the paddock,” Luttrell said.

The Geards bought Geegees Blackflash’s dam when she was in foal as part of a $20,000 package deal involving four pregnant mares.

Geegees Blackflash, who bled early in his career, ran 11th in last year’s Hobart Cup and third in the Launceston Cup.

But he is a stronger and healthier horse now and has taken his record to 11 wins and 11 placings from 34 starts for $525,750 in prizemoney.

The Geards like to race their horses in Tasmania but there will be few options for Geegees Blackflash who will be weighted out of handicaps.

“Never say never,” Paul Geard said regarding the horse racing in Melbourne in the spring.

AAP TURF