By Michael Guerin
Ohoka Punter won’t get a better chance to stake his New Zealand Cup claims than today’s Flying Stakes at Ashburton.
Because he has the manners, fitness and draw to be the master of his own destiny in the most important lead-up to the $750,000 thriller at Addington in 15 days time.
The Cup market is murky because of the mixed form of early favourite Christen Me, who will miss today’s race, leaving a classic north-south battle with each island having two favoured chances and the north having a great upset hope too in Lancewood Lizzie.
Ohoka Punter is joined by Sky Major as the key northern raiders, while Smolda and Tiger Tara defend the southern honour.
But while Smolda and Sky Major are likely big improvers on their recent starts to the season and Tiger Tara has been outstanding, they could find themselves chasing Ohoka Punter because of his now sharply-honed standing start manners.
He made a flyer from behind the tapes at Alexandra Park last start to lead early from a 20m handicap, only to be unlucky later after trainer-driver Tony Herlihy took a trail behind Besotted, who stopped in front of him.
If he begins that quickly today on the lightning quick Ashburton track don’t be surprised to see Herlihy stay in front and set a sub 3:0 speed, which will make it very hard to come from behind him.
Either way, he looks a superb each way bet, especially as the addition of pull down blinds look to have sharpened his focus over the last 200m.
Smolda is the obvious improver today and if he can get handy early might be the only horse with the credentials and respect to challenge successfully for the lead.
Co-trainer Mark Purdon is thrilled with how Smolda has trained on since his huge comeback second at Addington last start and if he can win today he will be the new New Zealand Cup favourite.
Tiger Tara could have started favourite today with a better draw but has the standing start manners to still be a huge threat while Sky Major returns to the track where he has won two Harness Jewels.
He has peaked on his run in both his starts this season but should be nearing his best now, although from his wide draw he could well settle back, which is a very hard place to win from major races at Ashburton.
While the Flying Stakes looks a five-horse clash with a strong support cast, the feature trot should be dominated by Australasia’s best trotter Stent.
The millionaire was an effortless, stunning winner over Master Lavros fresh up at Addington last start and has trialled well.
With a huge diet of mobile sprint racing in Australia under his belt in the last two years, he should have the speed to lead early and be too good, with the $1.85 TAB fixed odds more than fair.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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