Exoteric battling against the odds in Hobart Cup fairytale

This Hobart Cup hopeful may be a longshot but Exoteric’s form is heading in the right direction ahead of Sunday’s big race.

Exoteric with Stephen Maskiell aboard in a track gallop at Elwick yesterday morning.

THE connections of Hobart Cup hopeful Exoteric admit they are throwing the former Chris Waller-trained stayer in at the deep end on Sunday.

Exoteric was purchased by former star Tasmanian jockey Stephen Maskiell and his wife Yasmin for $65,000 on an online Inglis dispersal sale last year with the hope of capturing one of the state’s major cups during the carnival.

Trainer Charlie Goggin says the gelded son of Champs Elysees is a genuine stayer that only shines when he gets over 2400 metres and beyond.

“The horse missed running in the Summer Cup last Saturday which has put him a bit behind, but we’ve been able to give him a strong gallop after the last race on Saturday,” Goggin said.

“His work this morning at Elwick was excellent so I am a bit more confident about him running a bit of a race on Sunday than I was at this time last week.”

Exoteric is $34 in most markets but should he find his best form the seven-year-old would make his presence felt at the business end of proceedings.

RELATED: LOCAL CUP HOPE ‘APPY’ WITH DRAW

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Taikomochi has been installed the $3.80 favourite on the strength of his last-start win in the Australian Day Cup over 2400 metres at Warwick Farm.

Taikomochi is a renown frontrunner but he might not find it easy to find the front from the outside barrier (12).

The Patrick Payne-trained kiwi stayer Home by Midnight, that raced as Five to Midnight in NZ, hasn’t won from nine starts in Australia with all his winning form across the Tasman, although his last start second at Caulfield behind Vaucluse Bay convinced Payne to target the Hobart and Launceston cups as his next two assignments.

Tasmania mare Toorak Affair is second favourite at $4 following her impressive wins at her last two outings.

She scored an impressive win in the Brighton Cup (2100m) in Launceston just over two weeks ago at her first try beyond 1600m this preparation and last Saturday she gave her rivals a galloping lesson scoring by five lengths in the weight-for-age Summer Cup over 2200m.

MORE SPORT: TIGERS’ LACK OF KILLER INSTINCT EXPOSED | LOCAL HOBART CUP HOPE ‘APPY’ WITH DRAW | BUSHFIRE BASH’S BIGGEST STAR WITHDRAWS FROM EVENT

The Michael Trinder-trained mare carried 57kg in the Summer Cup, but she drops to the minimum of 54kg on Sunday.

“I can’t fault the mare this week, so we are looking forward to Sunday’s race,” Trinder said yesterday.

Longford trainer John Blacker says his cup hope Glass warrior will go into the cup at here peak.

“I am amazed at how well Glass Warrior has done since her second in the Summer Cup last Saturday,” Blacker said.

“Her work yesterday was the best she’s delivered this time in so that has given me a bit of confidence going into Sunday’s race.

“I always thought we might have to wait until the Launceston Cup to see her best but going by her demeanour around the stable and how she hit the line last start, she could win both cups.”

If Blacker is right and Glass Warrior emulates last year’s cups winner Eastender she would take out the Ladbrokes Cups Double Bonus of $100,000 which is divided equally between the trainer and owner.