By Michael Guerin
Punters can expect the scary Monbet who demolished his rivals at Alexandra Park 13 days ago to turn up in the National Trot tonight.
Because while co-trainer Greg Hope admits he is worried by his second line draw he is adamant his budding champion trotter couldn’t be better.
Monbet’s rise from lower grade trotter to maybe the best squaregaiter in the Southern Hemisphere has been dramatic, his last three wins seeing him trash the best trotters in the country.
He sat parked before cruising away in the Lyell Creek Stakes on December 18 and while last season’s arch rival Speeding Spur returns tonight, it is hard to imagine he is fit enough to win fresh up over 2700m at group one level.
So if you are keen on the near $2 price for Monbet today you need to ask two questions: Will bad luck be a factor? And is he as good as last start?
Hope says the answer to the second is simple.
“He is as good as he can be,” said Hope.
“Definitely as good as last start and he feels right in the zone to me.
“I’m not saying he is better than in the Lyell Creek because he was pretty awesome that night but he is definitely no worse.”
The first question, about possible bad luck, is one Hope has been asking himself since Monbet drew behind Prince Fearless, who galloped at Cambridge last start.
But those concerns were eased slightly yesterday when the scratching of Mum’s Pride saw a reshuffle of the second line, with Monbet now coming out behind Speeding Spur.
“To be honest I’d love to see him drawn anywhere on the front line rather than following out other horses.
“But if he doesn’t have any trouble early I will be telling Ricky (May, driver) to put him in the race because he is going that well he doesn’t want to be unlucky.”
Trotters in the zone are wonderful bets, with some of our best putting together amazing winning streaks in the last 15 years, horses like Lyell Creek, Take A Moment, I Can Doosit and even Stent last season.
If that same Stent who was rampant in Australia last season was in tonight’s race Monbet would need to be extra special to sit parked outside him and win but Stent led and was beaten into third over his favoured Mile at Cambridge last week.
So while he looks the early leader, it wouldn’t even surprise to see him take a sit if Monbet made a serious lead challenge mid-race. Back to his best Stent can win but backing him to be at his peak will be a leap of faith.
Speeding Spur was too good for a troubled Monbet last term, which suggests the pair are in for some classic clashes in the seasons ahead but it would be jaw-dropping if he can win tonight, especially as this race was only added to his programme a few days ago.
If that bad luck doesn’t turn up, Monbet should win again so is worth making your multi and Pick6 anchor.
A race later Hope and wife Nina are confident bad luck won’t be a problem for Mossdale Conner in the Auckland Cup, where his standing start manners could make him a key player.
Mossdale Conner gawked around badly when second in the Franklin Cup but Hope expects him to be more focussed tonight.
“He was like that in his first trial when we first brought him up here last April but came out and won the Taylor Mile a week later.
“So he will be better this time and I think he has a great shot at leading. But if some pressure came I could see him taking a trail behind one of the favourites.”
That makes Mossdale Conner a great place hope in the Cup and even gives his trainers a small shot at a group one double inside 45 minutes tonight.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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