By Michael Guerin
Hughie Green’s winning run may have come to a halt but that hasn’t dented driver Maurice McKendry’s confidence heading into tonight’s $250,000 Auckland Cup.
Hughie Green was close to favourite for tonight’s 3200m stand two weeks ago after his demolition job over many in tonight’s race in the Summer Cup.
But the enormous, mainly-warranted hype on the four-year-old wasn’t enough to get him home in the Futurity at Cambridge last Thursday, when he was nosed out of a race rival today in Te Kawau.
But McKendry says that second was as good as Hughie Green’s earlier dominant wins.
“It was always going to be a tricky race, especially us being drawn wide in a small field,” he says.
“And he hung in a bit on the last bend, which probably cost him the win.
“Still, the winner went well and we had our chance. It just goes to show how luck in the running can be a factor at this level, especially when you get back in the field.”
McKendry is confident Hughie Green can use his standing start manners to make his own luck tonight.
“He has only had two stands but been safe both times and if we gets away again then it would be good to get handy.
“But he doesn’t need to lead, if the pace is strong he will be just as comfortable following.”
Hughie Green is only assessed at class five so would be one of the lowest graded pacers to win the Cup and McKendry admits the race could be six months too early for both his charge and favourite Have Faith In Me.
“I think they can both win because they have that x-factor but those older horses who have been there, done that are hard to beat in these two mile stands.
“To be honest, I am surprised Have Faith In Me is the favourite because like our fella he is all a bit new to this.
“I would have thought Smolda would be favourite.”
While McKendry expects Hughie Green to be master of his own destiny from his front line draw, he isn’t so thrilled with his own stable rep Shandale drawing the outside of the second line in the $200,000 Sales Series Pace.
“Every time he races for big money he seems to draw out the back,” he shakes his head.
The unusual composition of the field, with six on the front line and seven on the second, means Shandale won’t have a horse directly in front of him at the start.
“But that isn’t much good to him unless I want to go forward and be seven wide into the first bend.”
The shortened front line plays into the hooves of Lazarus and Chase The Dreams, whose widish draws should now be easier to overcome.
They look certain to press forward with only Art Form offering resistance to them dominating the race and if Lazarus is able to run to the front from barrier five the $200,000 event looks as good as over.
McKendry’s best drive of the night is Yagunnakissmeornot, who is unbeaten this season and races for a $10,000 winning bonus in race nine, a leg of the $75,000 guaranteed Pick6.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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