By Michael Guerin
New Zealand Cup favourite Self Assured is a surprise late entry for the Inter Dominions in New South Wales.
But co-trainer Mark Purdon warns punters not to get carried away backing the superstar to win the series.
Entries for the Interdoms which start at Menangle on November 27 closed at 3pm NZtime on Monday and Self Assured was nominated at the last minute but only as a precaution.
“We and Jean (Feiss, owner) aren’t that keen on the series with the travelling to Bathurst and Newcastle for the heats all in the first week,” explained Purdon, who officially joins Hayden Cullen in partnership from this Friday.
“So initially we weren’t going to nominate him but we realise a lot of things are up in the air at the moment with Covid so we did it as a back up measure.
“So at this stage it is not our intention to go but it was free to enter and the first payment isn’t for a month and maybe we will know more by then.
“Maybe if things change and the series reverted to being held at Menangle with no travelling then it could become more possible but of course there are still restrictions around travel for us and lots of other factors.
“So we have very much thrown him in at the last minute but his main aim is obviously the Cup and we want punters to be aware of that if they are thinking about him as an Interdom horse.”
Self Assured is down to resume in the Canterbury Classic this Friday at Addington
Other Kiwis nominated in the Inter Dominion pacing division are Stylish Memphis, the Barry Purdon – Scott Phelan trained pair of Bad To the Bone and Marathon Man, and southerners Vintage Cheddar and Robyns Playboy.
Sixty four of the pacers have been nominated from host state New South Wales, including eight from the powerful Belinda McCarthy barn – among them King Of Swing, Spirit of Louis and Expensive Ego.
Amazing Dream has also been nominated.
Victoria dominates the nominations for the trotters, with 38 of the 64 horses put forward. Kiwi interest will centre around Bolt For Brilliance, Majestic Man and Majestic Lavros.
Majestic Man will be back in action at Addington on Friday, renewing his rivalry with Sundees Son. It’s their first clash since Sundees Son won the Rowe Cup in April, where Majestic Man finished fourth.
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