Australia: Military Mission, Spirit Ridge meet again in Launceston Cup

Military Mission and Spirit Ridge have become familiar foes this year in Australia, and meet for the third time in 2023 in the Group 3 Launceston Cup at Launceston Racecourse on Tuesday evening.

Spirit Ridge and Military Mission were second and third behind Chalk Spirit in the Australia Day Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Warwick Farm Racecourse on Jan. 26. In the Group 3 Hobart Cup at Hobart Racecourse on Feb. 12, Military Mission won by 2 1/2 lengths over Travelling Gigolo. Spirit Ridge was third, beaten three lengths as the 2-1 favorite.

Spirit Ridge was the 2-1 favorite in early betting on Monday for the $207,300 Launceston Cup, which drew a field of 15. Chalk Spirit is not in the lineup, while Traveling Gigolo was 11-1, a much higher price than Military Mission at 3-1.

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Spirit Ridge, trained by Annabel Neasham, may have a slight tactical advantage over Military Mission, who is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Spirit Ridge tends to race from a tracking position, while Military Mission is a closer.

If they falter, Aurora’s Symphony will benefit. A 6-year-old gelding, Aurora’s Symphony won the 2022 Launceston Cup at 6-1, his second and final victory of a 10-race campaign last year.

Aurora’s Symphony won his 2023 debut in the Colac Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Colac Racecourse on Feb. 10, a race he won in 2022 in advance of the Launceston Cup. Aurora’s Symphony, who tends to run as a stalker, was an attractive 5-1 in early betting.

Launceston, located on the island of Tasmania, has a 10-race program, beginning at 8:52 p.m. Eastern or 5:52 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

In the race following the Launceston Cup, Take the Sit and Embeller are the two leading contenders in the Group 3 Vamos Stakes for fillies and mares. The race is worth $103,700 and is run at seven furlongs.

The 6-year-old Take the Sit won the 2022 Vamos Stakes, her only stakes win in three appearances in such races in her 23-race career.

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