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The Tasmanian Summer Carnival is beginning to heat up with Launceston hosting the Listed Tasmanian Stakes on Wednesday evening.

Launceston hosts a nine race program commencing at 5.35pm this evening with the feature event the $100,000 WFA Tasmanian Stakes (1600m).

Nine contest the Listed event however a strong case can be made for Wednesday’s feature being a match race between the two clear cut class horses in the field.

The first is five time stakes winner Admiral who is looking to record consecutive wins after taking out the Conquering WFA Stakes (1400m).

He recorded a three-quarter length win on that occasion, beating a number of the same rivals he faces first up when a somewhat unlucky fifth in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m).

A fortnight later in the Conquering Stakes, Admiral met those same rivals on substantially better weight terms and capitalised.

The Barry Campbell-trained runner is largely expected to offer up a repeat serve in the Tasmanian Stakes.

Admiral will no doubt strip fitter again still early in his campaign and is unbeaten from two prior third up outings.

Rising to a mile should suit having twice won at the trip, one of those occasions being when he took out the Listed George Adams Plate last February when defeating multiple Group winner The Cleaner.

His lone defeat at the distance came when the Mossman gelding actually produced a career best performance, running sixth to Wandjina in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington in March.

The four-year-old also possesses an imposing record at the track having won six of his eight starts and placing on another occasion.

It is hard to fault the consistent sprinter/miler and understandably he is expected to start as odds on favourite this evening.

Melbourne Raider Eximius is the obvious danger.

The Mick Price-trained gelding arrives in the Apple Isle off minor placings in the Kilmore Cup (1600m) and Sandown 18 days ago.

His Kilmore Cup second behind Rhythm To Spare in particular puts the six-year-old right in the thick of things here.

Suggestions of a match race could become a reality from the outset with Admiral and Eximius expected to settle alongside each other in transit, both likely stalking the early leaders.

On latest form, these pair have a substantial edge over the remainder of the field.

Under weight-for-age conditions, most contesting the Tasmanian Stakes come in poorly at the level weights.

Gee Gees Goldengirl ran a bold race in the Conquering WFA Stakes when second to Admiral.

Rising to a mile must be a query for the daughter of Wordsmith however she is as honest as the day is long.

Streetwise Savoire ran fourth in the Conquering WFA.

The Scott Brunton-trained gelding has been fair this campaign although is yet to reach the level he found last summer when defeating Admiral to win the Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes (1400m).

Both Gee Gees Goldengirl and Streetwise Savoire each have a bit to find on latest form and considering the weight they would be getting off Admiral under handicap conditions, they profile moreso as value hopes.

At true weights based on Tasmanian Handicap Ratings, Streetwise Savoire should be carrying 4.5kg less than Admiral while Gee Gees Goldengirl should be carrying 9kg.

It highlights the class edge Admiral has over his rivals in the Tasmanian Stakes on Wednesday night which should result in the gelding recording a second stakes success this preparation.