By Tayler Strong
Cullect A Guinness is the horse to beat in the Oamaru Cup on grass on Thursday.
He won the Westport Cup (3200m) on grass from a 30m handicap on December 28 and he won on grass at Oamaru earlier that month. He is off 30m over 3000m on Thursday. The Robert Dunn-trained Cullect A Guinness has been a model of consistency.
He has not finished further back than fourth in his last six starts. Another good placing was his third from 40m to Seel The Deal and Johnny Eyre in the Reefton Cup.
The Dunn stable has a likely second string in Mach Cruiser, a last start winner at Rangiora on January 3 and runner up to Whyamibettor at Reefton. Mach Cruiser won on grass at Motukarara in November. He ran fourth behind Cullect A Guinness at Oamaru the following month.
Johnny Eyre, whose five wins have been on grass, has to be respected off the front.
He followed up his Reefton Cup placing with a third to Lightning Mach and Royal Counsel in the Motukarara Cup on Sunday.
Maybe Flyin, a winner on Sunday, is capable of managing a step up in grade.
A 55m handicap would not rule out Belkmyster.
He ran second to Jerry Garcia from that handicap on the all-weather track at Oamaru at his last start.
Man I’m Good (race 10) and Queen Kenny (race 9) are other top prospects on the score on their grass track form. Man I’m Good has won at Oamaru and Cromwell in his last three starts for Winton owner-trainer, Alister Kyle.
Queen Kenny, trained at Invercargill by Tony Barron, has gained four of her seven wins on grass with her most recent success at Orari in November.
Jag’s Invasion, who has dropped back in classification, could provide her with stern opposition. He ran second to Springbank Sam under free-for-all conditions at Omakau this month. Trainer Nathan Williamson has added half hopples and blinds to the gear for Jag’s Invasion.
Williamson scratched his talented three-year-old trotter, She’s Allthe Craze(race 5) after an adverse blood test.
“I will give her a freshen up for a couple of weeks and bring her back in the autumn,’’ he said. She’s Allthecraze won impressively at Roxburgh this month after finishing second in her other start.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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