WHILE the showdown between a Kiwi and an Inter Dom champ has stolen most of the Good Form Victoria Cup headlines, just out of the limelight are runners ready to shape the great race.
Andy Gath’s Mister Mundaka has drawn barrier five, slotted between short-priced Smolda and Lennytheshark.
The Long Forest trainer expects to learn much about his six-year-old gelding, which is renowned for his gate speed and “will come out with all guns blazing”.
“It’s a big step up in class,” Gath said. “Realistically, he is probably not a winning chance, but he has really good gate speed and may have a lot to do in the make-up of the race.
“He’s very fast out, but given the quality of the horses this time will be a lot tougher.”
Come what may, Gath said at the very least “it’s a really good test“.
Another horse whose connections are hoping to play a role is Hotasel, which trainer-driver John Justice will steer from barrier eight.
“I am very happy with him. He’s coming along nicely,” Justice said.
Hotasel is drawn on the second row and his hopes of being a major player may rest on Flaming Flutter holding the lead from barrier one.
“I think he’s got a reasonable draw. Flaming Flutter is quite a fast horse,” Justice said.
“He’s held Lenny out in a lot of races. He’s got good speed and if we can hold on to his back that could lead us into the race.”
That will certainly be Flaming Flutter’s intention, says trainer Geoff Webster.
He described drawing barrier one as “perfect”, and said his six-year-old out of Bettors Delight would try and hold the lead in the early stages of the race.
“Flaming Flutter is good early and he can hold them if he wants to,” Webster said.
He was confident, Lennytheshark and Smolda aside, none of those on Flaming Flutter’s side would show the speed that would enable them to cross it, enabling him to either dictate from the front or fall in behind the favourites.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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