A big weekend in the trots has had a good raking over on the airwaves today, with standing starts, innovation and superstars all on the agenda.
Gareth Hall was joined by Anthony Butt and Adam Hamilton as part of today’s Gait Speed on RSN927 and the Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup was a hot-button issue.
Hamilton said “the race itself was a disappointing spectacle”, after King Of Swing dominated affairs with an all-the-way win from gate one, but that calls to change the start from a mobile to a stand doesn’t guarantee a more competitive race.
“I found it disappointing on one hand and amusing on the other, because the same people were raving about what an incredible race the Ballarat Cup was only a couple of weeks earlier with basically the same field,” Hamilton said.
“Barrier draws dictate how competitive a race is going to be, not whether it’s a mobile or stand start.”
Butt, who steered Amazing Dream to third in the Cup, said there were “fors and against for both cases”.
“I’m obviously from New Zealand, a bit of a traditionalist, I love the stands, but we probably don’t even need the handicaps any more.”
Hall refuted that standing starts had made for better races, pointing towards “pedestrian races” in Butt’s country of origin as proof.
The trio also touched on pacing innovation, Spellbound, Amore Vita and what’s ahead for the four-year-olds.
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