After finishing as the runner-up in three feature races and showing competitiveness in all his weight-for-age starts over the Summer Racing Festival, Just Cruisin’ gets the chance for an overdue win when he lines up in a 1400m class 4 in Launceston on Friday night.

Earlier this campaign, Just Cruisin’ chased home Durazzo in the Newmarket Hcp, the Conquering Stakes and The Inevitable Stakes finishing second in all three races. He then finished just behind the placegetters in the WFA Thomas Lyons and was a close fourth in the Hellova Street Stakes.

For his efforts, Just Cruisin’ earned his owners $82,500, but it could have been so much more with an ounce of luck.

The lightly raced 5yo who has won four of his 11 starts looks extremely well in under Friday night’s set weights race with just 59kg, the same weight he carried in WFA events.

“He towed me down the beach this morning (Wednesday) so he’s feeling pretty good,” trainer Kelvin Hamilton said.

“He’s just such a good doing horse, and because of his issues, I can’t really work him properly, and he gets a tad fat; he’s been going into these races a bit underdone.

“Jett (jockey, Jett Stanley) said he had a bit of a blow after the Hellova Street. He said give him another run and we could find a race for him in Melbourne. We will just see how he goes in this.”

Hamilton, who trains only four horses, will have half of his stable in Launceston on Friday night. His ageless nine-year-old Fast Thinker will compete in the Dynamic Finance Brokers Tasmanian St. Leger over 2400m after finishing well behind in the Launceston Cup over the same trip.

“He didn’t quite get the 2400, but I reckon that run might have hardened him up a little, and he might be a bit more competitive.”

Six of the St Leger field contested the Launceston Cup, including runner-up Zulu Angel and third-placegetter Distrustful Award.

“Next day after the Cup, he was bouncing around, I think around 2000m, 2100m is his best distance.”

Fast Thinker has won five of his past 10 races, including the Longford Cup on New Year’s Day.

“He’s been a pretty good cash cow for us. I didn’t pay much for him.”

The nine-race card gets underway at 17:34. Matt Reid will be trackside with all the action on Tasracing Live and Sky Thoroughbred Central.