The David Hayes stable will launch a two-pronged attack on Monday's Hobart Cup with in-form gallopers Acosta and Hidden Wonder, but the stable is not overly confident that it can bring home the prize such is the depth in the Group Three event.A full field of 17 runners, plus two emergencies, accepted for the $400,000 2200m feature with no less than 10 interstate raiders engaged.The Hayes pair arrived in Tasmania by ferry on Tuesday and have settled in nicely, assistant trainer Gary Fennessy said
The David Hayes stable will launch a two-pronged attack on Monday's Hobart Cup with in-form gallopers Acosta and Hidden Wonder, but the stable is not overly confident that it can bring home the prize such is the depth in the Group Three event.
A full field of 17 runners, plus two emergencies, accepted for the $400,000 2200m feature with no less than 10 interstate raiders engaged.
The Hayes pair arrived in Tasmania by ferry on Tuesday and have settled in nicely, assistant trainer Gary Fennessy said.
"They are both very fit and both in the race with chances," he said.
"It's a pretty tough race, it seems to be getting harder and harder each year. It looks the best field they've had."
Acosta has drawn nicely in barrier three and will be ridden by Chris Symons while Hidden Wonder, who drew out in gate 13, will be handled by Clare Lindop.
Encosta De Lago four-year-old Acosta is a dual Flemington winner and won over 1800m there on Oaks Day last spring.
The gelding has been placed at his past two starts since a break, finishing runner-up to Vigor over 2000m at Flemington and third to Banana Man and Hobart Cup rival Gotta Keep Cool over 2000m at Caulfield, both last month.
"He's a tough sort of horse," Fennessy said of Acosta who has had 13 runs since resuming last March for three wins.
He he has had let-ups of 10 weeks and seven weeks during that time.
Hidden Wonder, a four-year-old Danzero mare, was runner-up to Causeway Queen in the Strutt Stakes (2100m) on Hobart Cup Day last year before running seventh to the same filly in the Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) at Launceston.
She has been up since June, winning only an 1800m Rating 0-86 event at Cheltenham from 13 outings so far this preparation.
But her last start long neck second to Cup rival Soul Diva over 2000m at Flemington last month was encouraging.
Lindop, who approached the stable for the mount on Hidden Wonder, has already won a major in Tasmania, landing the 2005 Launceston Cup aboard Dakasha for Adelaide trainer Leon Macdonald.
Damien Oliver, who won the race two years ago on Blutigeroo, rides imported galloper Reputable who drew barrier 17.
The flashy chestnut, prepared by Danny O'Brien, completed a hat-trick of wins when resuming over 1600m at Caulfield, but disappointed second-up when ninth to Banana Man.
"He was a little but below par on Australia Day but seems to have come through that race well and he has worked strongly since so we hope that was an aberration," O'Brien said.
"He did lay in a bit and hurt his back which we've had a few issues with before, but we've had some acupuncture done on him and fixed it up so that was an excuse and hopefully he can turn it around on Monday."
Trainer Darren Weir and jockey Craig Williams will be trying for back-to-back Cup victories following Offenbach's win last year with the $4 favourite Gotta Keep Cool.
Gotta Keep Cool has firmed from $6.50 since acceptances on Wednesday with TAB Sportsbet taking a bet of $3,000 at $4.60 on Friday.
The Anthony Cummings-trained Zavite, the last-start Australia Day Cup (2400m) winner at Randwick, came in to $5.50 with a bet of $3,000 at $6.50, while the Troy Blacker-trained Dream Pedler firmed to $26 after a bet of $1,000 each-way at $41.