Gold Sovereign Stakes 2023 Race Details
Race 6 at Launceston Racecourse on Sunday 5th of February 2023.
The Gold Sovereign Stakes is a 1200 metre set weights race for two-year-olds run by the Tasmanian Turf Club in February. It is held at Launceston as part of the Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival. This year’s race is worth $150,000.
You can read more about the race history, lead-up races, and past winners on the Gold Sovereign Stakes page.
Gold Sovereign Stakes 2023 Map
Track: Good Weather: Good
CAIRNS, POSITIVE PRESS, JOHNNIE PINCH and NEEDS SUGAR look your main speed influencers in the race. ENCOUNTER SPHERE, THE SPIRIT OF ZERO, ISLAND WARRIOR and debutants IKIGAI KATSUMI and COCOCAPRI should settle in behind them. BATCHY BULLET and BOBBLE should round them up.
Gold Sovereign Stakes 2023 Runner by Runner (Market to 110%)
1. Encounter Sphere – Rated Price $23.00
Blow out chance, has finished nicely behind NEEDS SUGAR but would need to make significant jump to be turning the tables.
2. The Spirit of Zero – Rated Price $14.00
Brings different form line to most of these and has been finishing off his races strongly. Looks suited out in trip and has improved with every run this prep. With the right race shape could be a rough hope.
3. Johnnie Pinch – Rated Price $16.00
Did it tough on debut and boxed on well behind THE SPIRIT OF ZERO. Will derive benefit from that run but not sure he can win a race of this depth at his 2nd start.
4. Needs Sugar – Rated Price $2.15
Favourite and rightly so. Was a dominant winner in the main lead-up and looks the standout 2YO (in admittedly an average bunch). Find this filly very hard to go past – black odds could be good odds!
5. Cairns – Rated Price $5.00
Went into the main lead-up race as a main chance and ran poorly. Willing to forgive a 2YO Filly an average performance and could easily bounce back here. Should lead from the wide draw and has beaten the favourite previously. Main danger.
6. Batchy Bullet – Rated Price $21.00
Fair debut. I think she’s looking for further and might turn out to be a decent 3YO guineas horse. Specked in the market on debut might represent the stable’s opinion of this filly.
7. Island Warrior – Rated Price $61.00
Can improve but looks out of her depth here. Another filly I think can improve as a 3YO out in trip.
8. Bobble – Rated Price $51.00
Weird runner to get a gauge on. Was supported early on debut and then drifted heavily and ran according to the late betting. Has had a trial since and showed improvement. Maybe worth a few crumbs at the jump?
9. Cococapri – Rated Price $33.00
Debutant that has trialled okay. Good breeding (same sire as Mystic Journey) but happy to be against on debut – this looks too tough.
10. Ikigai Katsumi – Rated Price $41.00
Debutant that has trialled average. Looks outclassed here on debut.
11. Positive Press – Rated Price $10.00
Trialled really stylishly in slow time ahead of debut. Was eventually scratched when short in the market that day and hasn’t been seen since. Maybe she’s had an issue? Might be the trendy pick to beat the favourite.
12. Ride The Moon – Rated Price $51.00
Can’t have.
Gold Sovereign Stakes Summary
Think NEEDS SUGAR is pretty much a good thing, but given this is a 2YO feature nothing would surprise and as a result I can’t go diving into the odds-on. Would be happy to back on the drift – if we get one. CAIRNS looks best placed to beat the favourite with THE SPIRIT OF ZERO a blow-out chance coming from a different formline.
Gold Sovereign Stakes 2023 Tips
The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.
| Jack Higgins’ Top 4 | ||
| 4 Needs Sugar | ||
| 5 Cairns | ||
| 2 The Spirit of Zero | ||
| 11 Positive Press |
Betting Strategy:
Back NEEDS SUGAR if drifts to $2.50+
Back 4, 5, 2, 11 BOXED TRIFECTA
Previews for other races this week
Gold Sovereign Stakes 2023 Race Results
| Result | Horse | Margin |
| 1st | 2 The Spirit Of Zero | |
| 2nd | 4 Needs Sugar | 0.2 length |
| 3rd | 5 Cairns | 0.5 length |
| 4th | 8 Bobble | 0.7 length |
The track was rated as Good 4.
There were no scratchings.