Talented Tasmanian pacer Resurgent Spirit staked his claim as a genuine harness racing Easter Cup contender when he scored an impressive win in a Cup heat over 2698 metres in Launceston last night.
Dubbed the pride of the Derwent Valley, the gelding delivered a workmanlike performance to score from outsider Truly Blissfull with Major Callum a closing third and just ahead of Riverboat Jasper.
The Roger Whitmore-trained gelding has been competitive in all features in which he has competed this time in and this latest effort will ensure he has support in the Easter Cup in Launceston in a fortnight.
Driver James Austin had Resurgent Spirit ($3.60) settled midfield in the one-out line and when he called on the gelding for an effort leaving the back straight he sprinted quickly to have the leader covered and went on to score comfortably.
The favourite Five Star Anvil ($3) stepped safely from his 40-metre handicap but it proved too big an impost and he finished fifth.
Peter Staples