By Jonny Turner
While the Kaikoura Cup is the last stop off before the New Zealand Cup, it isn’t for the ultra-consistent Allamericanlover.
Trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer have their eyes firmly on New Zealand’s greatest race with their confirmed starters B D Joe and Alta Wiseguy.
But the clear target for their classy mare Allamericanlover is Monday’s Group Two Kaikoura Cup at the picturesque South Bay Racecourse.
Naturally, New Zealand Cup discussions dominate the talk around the 2400m, as they have been doing for decades.
Outside of the hot favourite Akuta, there are several contenders who desperately need to put question marks over their New Zealand Cup campaigns behind them.
All the while, there are absolutely no queries about where Allamericanlover is at heading into a race her trainers are specifically targeting.
“You could say that for her whole career, she turns up and gives her best,” driver Tim Williams said.
“It is a race Steve and Amanda have picked out, they think the 2400m stand suits her.”
“Her manners are usually really good, too.”
“We just thought it was a really nice race and that some of the better ones wouldn’t be there.”
“It is still a really nice field but I think the draw (5) suits and we are happy.”
The tight-turning Kaikoura track has tripped plenty of good horses up in its time.
On her gait, Allamericanlover should thrive at the venue.
“That is half the reason we picked out this race, we are hoping she doesn’t make a liar of us,” Williams said.
“She is a great gaited wee thing with good manners.”
“The track should suit her if she can get a good possie.”
Williams combines with Five Wise Men in the Group Three South Bay Trotters Cup on Monday, taking on a star-studded line up which includes Sundees Son and Bolt For Brilliance.
The trotter strips fitter for his last start third placing behind Muscle Mountain in the Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile.
“He is just starting to take that next step again,” Williams said.
“Obviously last season and at the start of this season, he just dipped the toe in the water against the good ones.”
“I think that has hardened him up a wee bit now.”
“Obviously the mobile wasn’t ideal at Ashburton, but he needed the racing, so he went there and raced good.”
“He should’ve improved off that run, but it is a really good field.”
“If does things right he is a first-four player.”
Sundees Son will be out to boost his form ahead of his quest for three-straight Dominion win.
The trotter heads back to Kaikoura for the first time since 2020, with the team behind him hoping for better luck.
Sundees Son was checked, resulting in him galloping out of the South Bay Trotters Cup before his 2020 Dominion victory.
The Robert and Jenna Dunn trained star galloped out of his last start in the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup before staging a huge recovery to run fifth.
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