By Michael Guerin
Smolda’s surprise entry for the Auckland Trotting Cup has put pacing’s young guns back in their place — for a few weeks at least.
Because the New Zealand Cup runner-up will open the $3 favourite for the Auckland Cup this morning, winning at least early skiting rights over the youngsters looking to steal his crown.
The Auckland Cup returns to the December 31 twilight time slot and a 3200m standing start this season and with 23 entries already looks a huge numerical improvement on recent seasons.
The race was expected to provide a passing of the batten in open class pacing, with most of the old heroes who have dominated recent seasons retired or looking to be usurped.
But Smolda is set to stand up to the young pretenders after initially being tipped to miss the race.
After his huge second in the New Zealand Cup three weeks ago Smolda rates as our best open class pacer racing at the moment, with Christen Me still out until the New Year and the NZ Cup winner Arden Rooney being Australian-trained.
But co-trainer Mark Purdon was originally going to allow Smolda to miss the Auckland Cup because of difficulties he had racing right-handed last campaign.
“But he has been working right-handed at home and has got better so we are now going to have a crack,” said Purdon.
“We will give him a race up there on December 18 and if that goes well we will go to the Cup. I think he will be fine so he is in the entries.
“And if for some reason he didn’t handle the track then we can always chance plan.” Purdon and training partner Natalie Rasmussen also have Cup second favourite Have Faith In Me and he is pleasing the pair with his standing start manners at home.
“He has been good from the stands at home and definitely getting better, but it is race night that counts.
“But at this stage we are hopeful.”
The pair will open $3 (Smolda) and $4, with another set of stablemates Hughie Green and The Orange Agent on the next line of betting at $5.50.
Hughie Green looks the more likely to the pair to head to the Cup but The Orange Agent was brave in her comeback race on Friday and if one or two of the Cup favourites fell by the wayside the Cup could come more sharply into focus for her.
But punters should be careful about taking any odds for her yet, with the Queen Of Hearts on December 18 her more pressing target.
NZ Free-For-All winner Tiger Tara, who has won a Derby at Alexandra Park, is rated a $8.50 hope while Ohoka Punter sits on the $9.50 line with Sky Major.
The value in the early marjet is clearly Mossdale Conner, who is set to open around $41 even after a luckless second in the NZ Free-For-All and finishing third in the New Zealand Cup.
As a former Taylor Mile winner and with his standing start manners he looks over the odds, particularly as he is near certain to be in the field while some other have those doubts hanging over them.
Meanwhile, the second round of heats for the Inter Dominions move to Bunbury in West Australia tonight, with Lennytheshark now the dominant $2.60 favourite to win the final on Sunday week.
He was an effortless first night heat winner and has drawn barrie three over the mile tonight so looks set to lead and win and could be as short as $2 for the final by tomorrow morning.
Other first night winner Davendra and Philadelphia Man meet in in tonight’s last heat, with the former’s gate speed and draw giving him a huge advantage.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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