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The Tasmanian carnival hits top gear on Sunday with the G3 Bow Mistress Trophy and Listed Tasmanian Derby the features on a nine-event card at Elwick in Hobart.
The Darren Weir-trained gelding Rainbow Storm is expected to start a firm favourite for the $100,000 Tasmanian Derby on the strength of his form in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Rainbow Storms has recorded three effortless wins from seven starts at Moonee Valley (1600m), Caulfield (2000m) and most recently at Morphettville (1950m) on January 18 by an average winning margin of 5.63 lengths.
Brad Rawiller makes the trip from Melbourne to ride Rainbow Storm, who is joined by the Tony Vasil-trained Liberty Leader as the only two interstate three-year-olds in the Derby.
Veteran Longford trainer Ken Hanson is confident his Hobart Guineas winner Moonless can match the interstate three-year-olds over the 2200m of the Derby.
Moonless, co-trained by Hanson with his daughter Tanya, broke his maiden when he won the Guineas at Elwick on January 19.
He will be Hanson’s first Tasmanian Derby starter since Gold Finder finished third in 1982.
"I hope it's not another 32 years before we have another one," Hanson said.
"Moonstone pulled up remarkably well following the Guineas and his work since has been very pleasing.
"He keeps improving with every start. They will know that they have been in a race on Sunday because our horse has turned the corner and will love the 2200 metres.”
Nash Rawiller’s agent chased the Derby ride on Moonstone but Hanson decided to stick with his Guineas rider Georgie Catania
The Rawiller brothers will be on show as Nash travels from Sydney for the Bow Mistress Stakes ride on the classy mare Miss Stellabelle.
Miss Stellabelle, who has been in training Tasmania for 10 weeks under the care of Charlie Goggin and his training partner and daughter Luella Maeburn, has contested 21 Group or Listed races from her 23 starts.
The Peter Moody-trained Kneeling and the Robbie Griffith-trained You Can Dance are other classy interstate mares taking on local star Rebel Bride in a bid to stop her from winning her third successive Bow Mistress Stakes.
Brad Rawiller has taken the ride on Kneeling while Craig Newitt rides You Can Dance.
