Aurora’s Symphony chasing significant Launceston Cup history

After winning the Hobart Cup earlier this month, the Symon Wilde trained Aurora’s Symphony will be looking to create a piece of history in Wednesday’s Launceston Cup. Here’s how.

Aurora's Symphony ridden by Jordan Childs returns to scale after winning the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup at Elwick Racecourse. Picture: Chris Kidd

Aurora’s Symphony will be chasing a piece of history when he lines up in Wednesday’s $300,000 Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m).

While only St. Andrews in the early 2000s and Strop back in the mid-1800s have won the race on three occasions, Aurora’s Symphony will be looking to become the first horse to win the race in three consecutive years in the 160th running of the race, and to do so he will have to become the first horse since Vamos in 1955 who carried the equivalent of 61.5kg to win the race, the same as the gelding has to carry.

The seven-year-old has remained in Tasmania at the stables of Glenn Stevenson at Wesley Vale since his dominant 2 3/4 length Hobart Cup (2400m) win on 11 February, with the trainer happy with the horse’s recent form.

“He went down to Tasmania in good form after winning at Flemington, where I thought he was a bit underdone. I thought he was the forgotten horse in the Hobart Cup, but we were really pleased (with his win), and he seems to grow a leg when he goes to Tasmania,” trainer Symon Wilde said.

The Warrnambool-based trainer revealed it hasn’t been smooth sailing this preparation, with the gelding suffering a colic attack, which saw him have time away from the track late last year.

“Taylor Newman (who has travelled to the state with the horse) rushed him to the Ballarat Vet Clinic, where he stayed for three days. Then, after his Flemington win, he was stung by something and had a reaction, so it hasn’t been smooth sailing by any stretch,” said the trainer, who also schooled the horse over the jumps.

Wilde hasn’t been in the state for any of Aurora’s Syphony’s previous wins, and he won’t make the trip for the Launceston Cup in fear of “being a jinx” but does admit the gelding will need things to go his way.

“He is giving a lot of weight to those horses, and he’s going to have his work cut out. He has drawn a nice gate, so hopefully, that offsets it a bit. I think Excelleration is a pretty smart horse, and the rest of them all run well. So he will have to be on his A game. I don’t think he will just go out there and win the race,” he said.

Jordan Childs, who rode the gelding to his Hobart Cup win, retains the ride as the horse chases the $100,000 Cup’s bonus.

A top-three finish will see Aurora’s Symphony pass $1 million in prize money earnings.

Other highlights on the 10-race card include the Group 3 Vamos Stakes (1400m) for the Fillies and Mares under Weight For Age conditions, the Listed Hellova Street Stakes (1600m), the 3YO Classic (1200m) and the Royal Rambo (1200m).

Duncan Dornauf is also a race caller for Sky Racing.