Eastender wins Group Three Launceston Cup

Eastender has upstaged the interstate challengers to add the $250,000 Launceston Cup to his growing list of feature race wins in Tasmania.

The Barry Campbell-trained five-year-old gelding added Wednesday’s Group Three Launceston Cup (2400m) to wins in the Group Three Hobart Cup (2400m), the Summer Cup (2200m) at Hobart and Devonport Cup (1880m) at his previous three starts.

With Craig Newitt aboard, Eastender ($3.70) tracked the leader Fabrizio ($8.50) coming to the home turn before edging past the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained interstate visitor over the concluding stages to beat him by a half-length.

Another interstate visitor, the Patrick Payne-trained Lamborghini ($5.50) was the same margin away third.

The favourite Etymology ($3.30), trained by James Cummings, finished eighth of the 10 runners.

Eastender took his record to 10 wins from 21 starts.