By Michael Guerin
The hot favourites haven’t been handed any favours in the draws for the group ones at Alexandra Park’s huge cup meeting on Thursday.
All three favourites in the group one races at the twilight will start from the second line, although in the case of Have Faith In Me in the Auckland Trotting Cup that was by choice after his trainers placed him on the unruly from standing starts two weeks ago.
But while his connections already knew they were facing giving their rivals a start, it was simply luck of the draw — or lack of it — for Monbet in the National Trot and Golden Goddess in the Sires’ Stakes Fillies Championship.
Golden Goddess could have started a $1.10 in her $150,000 final had she drawn to run straight to the front but from two on the second line she might instead get out to $1.30 or $1.40, following out one of her key rivals in Killer Queen.
While that should mean her second line draw is not a great handicap, fans of rave trotter Monbet have reason to be slightly more nervous about his draw in the National Trot.
Not only does the sensational four-year-old have a second line draw but key rivals Stent (4) and Speeding Spur (3) have seemingly perfect draws on the front line.
But making matters potentially worse for Monbet is the fact, if the emergency Whitney is scratched, that the favourite could follow out Prince Fearless.
The latter galloped soon after the start of the Flying Mile at Cambridge last Thursday so any punters considering having a serious bet on Monbet will watch the start with a degree of nervousness.
Monbet got into $1.50 in the futures market for the National Trot but is likely to be closer to $1.70 or $1.80 when the final field markets for the group ones are released at 1pm today, especially with Speeding Spur now confirmed in the field.
While Have Faith In Me had to start from the worst barrier in the Cup, which starts at 7.08pm on Thursday, a trio of his main rivals are grouped together in the middle of the front line for the 3200m standing start classic.
Hughie Green has got barrier six, with New Zealand Cup placegetters Mossdale Conner (seven) and Smolda (eight) drawn directly outside him.
Tiger Tara, who was disappointing when fourth of five in the Futurity at Cambridge last Thursday has drawn well for a good beginner at barrier one, with his Futurity conqueror Te Kawau next to him at two.
With nine across the front line, Ohoka Punter, placed in the earlier Auckland Cup this year in March, will start from the inside of the second line.
One of the surprises of the Cup is Franco Nelson accepting, having not raced since the NZ Free-For-All at Addington on November 13.
Having to tackle a Cup fresh up this year is nothing new for Franco Nelson, as he hadn’t raced for 10 months when a brave fourth in Arden Rooney’s NZ Cup at Addington last month.
He pleased trainer Michael House in a workout where he was listed as a non-competitor at Pukekohe on Sunday but his task has also been made more difficult by his second line draw.
One of the hottest favourites of the day is Lazarus, who while he hasn’t drawn the second line, will start from wide on the front line in the $200,000 Sales Series Pace.
Northern three-year-old Art Form was the big winner in the draw there, coming up with barrier one and having the gate speed to use it.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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