By Adam Hamilton
Mark Purdon will have just the one runner, defending champion Smolda, in Saturday night’s $500,000 Group 1 Hunter Cup.
The champion trainer, fresh from totally dominating last Saturday night’s Victoria Cup card at Melton, has changed plans and will not run his reigning Miracle Mile winner Have Faith In Me in the Hunter Cup.
Purdon’s original plan was to pay the late entry for the Hunter Cup if Have Faith In Me won well last Saturday night.
This morning he said: “Have Faith In Me will go around in the Bertocchi free-for-all this week, not the Hunter Cup.”
Have Faith In Me was into $8 third favourite on the Aussie TAB before Purdon’s news.
Have Faith In Me returned to winning form, albeit by a whisker, when he sat parked and nabbed the leader Maximan on the line to win the Pure Steel at Melton last Saturday night.
It was a glimpse of the Have Faith In Me who stormed through Chariots Of Fire and Miracle Mile wins this time last year and looked the next big thing in the sport.
Beyond this week, Have Faith In Me will head to Menangle for one of the Miracle Mile qualifying sprints at Menangle on February 18.
With Have Faith In Me out, Smolda tightened to $2.60 favourite on th Aussie TAB.
Lennytheshark is $3 second favourite in what now effectively looked a two-horse race.
That sets the scene for a crucial barrier draw, which will be conducted at a HRV event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tomorrow (Tuesday) night.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
