Harness Racing / Andy Morris / 26 December 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Victoria Cup hero and New Zealand Cup runner-up Bettors Strike looks hard to beat in the Group 1 Tasmania Cup in Hobart, writes Andy Morris.

The New Zealand gelding won the $400,000 race on December 11, beating fellow Kiwi raider Smoken Up with a superior sprinting speed.

His overall record shows 13 wins from 51 starts, with a 65 per cent place record, and he struck twice just before landing the Victoria Cup.

A dead-heat in the Cranbourne Cup on November 28 was impressive as was his defeat of Monkey King at Addington on October 16.

Christchurch trainer Cran Dalgety has him primed for this one, where he starts off 20m but still looks the one to back.

Ohoka Nevada has claims

Ohoka Nevada is another interesting raider from across the Tasman who will look to back up his fine effort in the Cranbourne Cup where he crossed the line along with Bettors Strike. He had won three days before that, in the Kilmore Cup.

But backers will have to disregard his ninth place finish in the Victoria Cup and perhaps also his third in the City of Launceston Cup where he led but was passed by Power of Tara before the bell and was beaten by just 4.5 metres.

Trainer Tony Peacock likes his starting position, in gate five, which is better than stablemate Power of Tara's - he has been pulled to the 10-metre line.

Power of Tara has won nine of 16 starts from the stand, including the $250,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup.

Notaswethort worth checking out

Elsewhere, Notaswethort from New Zealand has good recent form for Glenn Douglas. He was a second placegetter in the City of Launceston Cup, having won back-to-back races at Tabcorp Park including the Victoria Cup Consolation.

Former Victoria Derby champion Tanabi Bromac, who was fourth in the Launceston Cup, is one of a number who will back up from that race and has drawn ideally in gate three.

Last week's Cup Prelude winner Captian Cullen is on the inside spot of the second line and will have his backers as he was second at Devonport on December 13.