By Matt Markham
A happy horse, doing so well in his build up to the second Tuesday of November, has led John Dunn to alter his plans slightly.
The Woodend Beach based Dunn, who runs the South Island branch of his father Robert’s training operation, wasn’t intending at being at Kaikoura on Monday with New Zealand Trotting Cup aspirant, Franco Nelson – but the former Cup runner-up is doing that well with life at the moment that Dunn was left with little choice.
“He’s absolutely flying, I actually couldn’t be happier with him at the moment,” he said.
“Initially I had said no to Kaikoura with him but the way he is at the moment I think he needs a race under his belt and we might not have got that if we waited for the Cup Trial on Wednesday.”
A winner of the Hannon Memorial and then the New Brighton Cup, Franco Nelson’s lead up form has been exceptional thus far and is also giving an insight that leads towards the showy pacer putting everything out in the open when the Cup finally does roll around.
Dunn has kept him ticking along nicely since his last appearance in the Canterbury Classic and a workout last week at Rangiora ticked all the boxes for the young horseman.
“He felt super that day, it was a really good hit out for him and he probably felt the best he’s felt this time in I think.”
Monday will be no walk in the park though with arguably one of the strongest Kaikoura Cup fields on offer in recent years.
Franco Nelson will start three in from the outside fence with noted speedster early, Seel The Deal and No Doctor Needed outside him meaning Dunn will be hoping for another flying beginning.
“That’s the key, it’s not an ideal draw but if he can begin really quickly we should be able to negate it a little bit.
“A lot depends on the first wee bit, but if we end up settling back I’m not going to be too worried.”
Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, who have dominated all the Cup lead up races that Franco Nelson hasn’t won, will have a two-pronged attack in the race from Smolda and Titan Banner.
Smolda missed Monday’s Ashburton Flying Stakes due to a slight issues in his bloods after his Methven Cup win but has been ticking along nicely since and is primed for a big run from the pole position on Monday.
“He’s come through it all good, it was nothing serious but enough to make us say no to Ashburton,” Mark Purdon said.
Titan Banner will return to the races after his Methven Cup, fresh up, third effort with a new driver.
Blair Orange has been engaged to drive the gelding on Monday and then going forward to the New Zealand Trotting Cup providing things continue down the natural path.
There will be interest too on Monday in the return to New Zealand of former All Stars runner, Messini.
The Brent Lilley trained pacer will begin his Kiwi cup preparation in the Kaikoura Cup.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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