By Michael Guerin
Sky Major is set to be the first major casualty of the revamped Auckland Trotting Cup.
Trainer Barry Purdon has all but resigned himself to the fact the three-time Harness Jewels winner won’t make it to the $250,000 classic at Alexandra Park on New Years Eve after a lacklustre last month.
Purdon was left perplexed by Sky Major’s below par form at the New Zealand Cup meeting but got to the bottom of the problem after a near career-worst performance at Alexandra Park two weeks ago.
“He has got a lung infection, which at least explains why he wasn’t racing up to his best,” said Purdon.
“He had a few little coughs at Addington, but nothing serious and a lot of horses will do that.
“But he really didn’t race up to his best last start and we eventually found the infection after he had a lung wash.” Purdon has given Sky Major an easy time and he will miss a red hot Summer Cup at Alexandra Park this Friday which will feature Have Faith In Me, Hughie Green, Tiger Tara and Ohoka Punter.
“To be honest he is almost certain to miss the Auckland Cup because I won’t be able to get the lead up racing into him so it is the right thing to do.
“I will aim him at the mile at Cambridge a week later and then all going well the Victoria and Hunter Cups in Melbourne.
“But we are leaving him in the Auckland Cup entries at this stage just in case he recovers really quickly and the race falls away.” The latter looks unlikely, with all the other major male entries for the Cup still on target, with the other main question mark being The Orange Agent.
She takes on Venus Serena, Lancewood Lizzie, Ideal Belle, Willow and Fight For Glory in two outstanding mares races over the next fortnight, after which the extent of her Auckland Cup aspirations will become clearer.
Her stablemate Hughie Green has been the Cup market shortener, coming into solid $4.50 third favouritism after beating Ohoka Punter at the workouts on the weekend.
Smolda is out from $3 to $3.50 and Have Faith In Me in from $4 to $3.70, with Hughie Green certain to shorten further if he wins the Summer Cup, in which he will have a preferential draw advantage over his rivals.
The TAB has also opened its first market on the National Trot, to also be run at the New Years Eve meeting, with Monbet the surprising $4.20 favourite over Stent and Master Lavros on the $5 line.
Monbet beat Stent easily with the advantage of a better draw at Methven on Sunday but has yet to win at Alexandra Park, his price showing just how far he has come in punter’s eyes this season.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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