Muppet Drawn To Order In Premier Stakes

RECENT Hobart Easter Cup winner Muppet has been installed favourite for Monday night's time-honoured LGRC Premier Stakes at Launceston on the opening night of the club's winter chasing carnival.

The John Pearce-trained daughter of Nolen has won her past three starts in Hobart and Devonport and with 14 race wins overall, is considered one of Tassie's better sprinters, having chased home Peco Can in some classic events earlier in her career.

In six starts wearing the red rug, her draw for Monday's event, Muppet has been victorious on three occasions.

Launceston Cup finalists Be Like Bill (box 2) and Buckle Up Rose (box 8) have the experience and form on the track to pose considerable threats to Muppet's chances.

However, while Buckle Up Rose has won 13 races at the track and distance, she hasn't won from box eight in three attempts.

Be Like Bill is a 29.54 winner over the trip and just needs clear room early to figure late.

The Winter Chasing Carnival includes a great line up of feature races on the Apple Isle, including the Tasmanian Derby & Oaks (515m), first staged at White City in 1974.

Stayers will get their opportunity to prepare for the state qualifiers of the National Championships with the Ray Foley Perpetual Stakes (May 27), followed by the TAB Distance Championship (June 10 & 17) and the CUB Winter Stakes (July 1 & 8).

Following Monday night, connections of sprinters have plenty on offer as well, continuing next week with the LGRC Life Members Stakes (May 13) before moving on to the Derby & Oaks (June 3 & 10) followed by four divisions of the Jack Nelson Cup (July 15 & 22).