By Adam Hamilton
New Zealand Cup winner Arden Rooney will be a surprise absentee from the Victoria Cup on January 30.
Owner Merv Butterworth said the short 2240m trip and mobile conditions around Melton did not suit his great stayer.
“I’ve told Kerryn (Manning, trainer-driver) I’d prefer him to run in the Pure Steel (2760m standing start) on Victoria Cup night instead,” he said.
“There can only be one winner in the Victoria Cup and it doesn’t really suit our guy.
“The 2240m around Melton is more like a sprint race. He’s a stayer.
“Defending the Hunter Cup crown is the goal and we’re looking for suitable races to get him ready.”
Arden Rooney hasn’t raced since his NZ Cup win at Addington on November 10.
“He’s coming along really well and getting close to racing,” Butterworth said.
“It’s likely he’ll return in the Horsham Cup and then go to the Pure Steel as his two runs leading into the Hunter Cup.”
The $70,000 Horsham Cup is a 2700m mobile free-for-all on Sunday, January 10.
It is part of a huge feature racing week with the $300,000 Fremantle Cup on January 8 and the $100,000 South Australian Cup on January 9.
“Many of the better horse will go to the SA Cup, so Horsham looks a good starting point,” Butterworth said.
More immediately, Butterworth is excited about his five runners at Thursday’s huge Auckland Cup meeting, headed by Itz Bettor To Win in the Cup itself.
“I’ve got five runners and I’m hoping for at least two winners,” he said.
“Golden Goddess has come back so well, she should win even from the bad draw. I think she’s class with a capital C.”
Butterworth also thinks Itz Bettor To Win will run a bold race at $21 in the Cup.
“Sure it’ll be harder meeting them all on levels terms, but he’s so reliable and still on the way up,” he said.
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