It’s Victoria’s greatest pacing race, Australia’s heavyweight championship and it’s where legends are made – the final countdown is on to tonight’s Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup.
An outstanding 12-horse field has emerged worthy of the Grand Circuit occasion. So who will take the Hunter home? Delve into every hopeful with thetrots.com.au’s runner-by-runner special and then tune in from 6pm tonight.
DEL-RE NATIONAL A. G. HUNTER CUP
$500,000 GROUP 1, R7, 9.18PM, TABCORP PARK MELTON
(analysis by Jason Bonnington)
1 KING OF SWING
Record: 79: 41-11-7
Stakes won: $2,501,046
Aus Group 1s: 15: 8-2-3
At track: 4: 2-1-1
Track/distance: 2: 1-0-1
Gate win%: 11.75%
Trainer: Belinda McCarthy
Driver: Luke McCarthy (Aus G1: 420: 72-49-52)
“Grand Circuit beast with a staggering record that tells us he virtually never loses when he finds the front. Drawing the pole has massively elevated his claims. Now it’s down to whether he’s racing at his best.”
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2 TRIPLE EIGHT
Record: 77: 17-13-16
Stakes won: $515,151
Aus Group 1s: 6: 1-1-0
At track: 7: 3-0-0
Track/distance: 2: 0-0-0
Gate win%: 8.56%
Trainer: Jess Tubbs
Driver: Greg Sugars (Aus G1: 462: 48-49-51)
“Sit-sprint star who altered the public’s perspective of his strength with a brutal last start triumph. The key will be the spot he finds once the dust has settled. If close enough to the leaders he can absolutely win.”
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3 OUR UNCLE SAM
Record: 117: 24-18-9
Stakes won: $704,509
Aus Group 1s: 17: 2-4-0
At track: 10: 1-3-0
Track/distance: 4: 0-3-0
Gate win%: 9.05%
Trainer: Chris Frisby
Driver: Anthony Frisby (Aus G1: 38: 2-5-3)
“A wonderful warrior who has twice placed in this epic race through his halcyon days. He certainly remains competitive at this level but, at eight years of age, he’s not quite what he was.”
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4 SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS
Record: 36: 16-6-3
Stakes won: $302,297
Aus Group 1s: 5: 1-0-0
At track: 0: 0-0-0
Track/distance: 0: 0-0-0
Gate win%: 14.76%
Trainer: Belinda McCarthy
Driver: Jack Callaghan (Aus G1: 17: 2-3-2)
“January 2022 will forever be remembered as the month this budding star emerged. There’s a real hope that he can lead then trail King Of Swing. That would aid his chances, but he’s up to this regardless.”
5 PHOENIX PRINCE
Record: 34: 17-2-3
Stakes won: $249,080
Aus Group 1s: 1: 0-0-0
At track: 14: 6-0-1
Track/distance: 0: 0-0-0
Gate win%: 11.71%
Trainer: Emma Stewart
Driver: Jodi Quinlan (Aus G1: 254: 16-25-30)
“Emma Stewart already boasts legend status, but if this fellow can win tonight, she hits another level. At his peak he’d be a hope in this Hunter Cup edition. Third up from a monster break the task ahead is giant.”
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6 LOCHINVAR ART
Record: 52: 28-15-6
Stakes won: $1,388,456
Aus Group 1s: 16: 7-4-3
At track: 14: 10-1-1
Track/distance: 2: 1-0-0
Gate win%: 10.98%
Trainer: David Moran
Driver: David Moran (Aus G1: 77: 17-12-8)
“What a moment it will be if he defends his crown. Without doubt the best of this champ would win tonight even from the draw. Whether 95 per cent of that best will do seems unlikely, but also not insane.”
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8 AMAZING DREAM
Record: 47: 24-10-8
Stakes won: $1,414,760
Aus Group 1s: 6: 3-1-1
At track: 3: 1-0-2
Track/distance: 1: 1-0-0
Gate win%: 15.91%
Trainer: Nathan Purdon
Driver: Anthony Butt (Aus G1: 373: 65-51-45)
“This megastar mare has trailed in both prior Grand Circuit wins. If she trails tonight, she’s the one to beat. With the services of seven-time Hunter Cup winning driver Anthony Butt, she’s the one regardless.”
9 MACH DAN
Record: 38: 16-4-8
Stakes won: $387,422
Aus Group 1s: 8: 1-0-2
At track: 9: 4-1-1
Track/distance: 1: 0-0-0
Gate win%: 12.63%
Trainer: Emma Stewart
Driver: Mark Pitt (Aus G1: 37: 6-3-5)
“No-one could accuse this guy of dodging feature targets. He’s been in everything, everywhere and always performs well. Down the track it’s possible he’ll be at this level; he’s just not quite there yet.”
10 WILLIE GO WEST
Record: 19: 9-3-1
Stakes won: $124,900
Aus Group 1s: 1: 0-0-0
At track: 5: 0-2-1
Track/distance: 0: 0-0-0
Gate win%: 9.09%
Trainer: Dean Braun
Driver: Chris Alford (Aus G1: 756: 124-102-82)
“Had he drawn the front tonight this untapped gun had claims. It’s possible his exceptional talent could make him dangerous here, but those who follow stats would say he needs the front to fire.”
11 SUPREME DOMINATOR
Record: 52: 13-12-8
Stakes won: $272,057
Aus Group 1s: 2: 0-0-0
At track: 11: 2-3-1
Track/distance: 0: 0-0-0
Gate win%: 7.19%
Trainer: Joe Pace
Driver: James Herbertson (Aus G1: 48: 2-6-2)
“There’s probably some justice in this fellow gaining a start given his Cranbourne Cup triumph. If he’d drawn the pole as he did in that success, who knows? From out here, however, it will be far too hard.”
12 MALCOLMS RHYTHM
Record: 67: 14-14-11
Stakes won: $344,300
Aus Group 1s: 8: 0-1-1
At track: 25: 4-4-4
Track/distance: 1: 0-0-0
Gate win%: 8.22%
Trainer: David Aiken
Driver: Josh Aiken (Aus G1: 108: 10-4-3)
“Lovable stayer who thoroughly deserved his Inter Dominion heat success after years of racing at the premium level. Very nice horse but also one facing Herculean hurdles at his first start in eight weeks.”
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13 MAX DELIGHT
Record: 54: 21-5-9
Stakes won: $708,440
Aus Group 1s: 14: 3-0-2
At track: 16: 7-2-2
Track/distance: 0: 0-0-0
Gate win%: 9.09%
Trainer: David Aiken
Driver: David Aiken (Aus G1: 77: 2-5-8)
TAB fixed odds: $101
“Vic Cup King with serious speed and genuine stamina. Like most at the elite level, however, he needs perfect circumstances to be dangerous and this draw against this opposition is anything but perfect.”
Join Sky Racing’s harness team of Brittany Graham and Gareth Hall, alongside trots form expert Steve Cleave for live and extended coverage from Tabcorp Park Melton this Friday and Saturday night. Featuring interviews with the key players, detailed pre-race analysis along with all the colour and excitement of the Great Southern Star and A.G. Hunter Cup nights. Download the Sky Racing Active App from the App or Play Store today.
READ MORE:
> Nathan Purdon dreams of honouring “very special” Roy tonight
> The Hunter Cup heroes who put their drivers’ names in lights
> McCarthy and King hold the key in plot to capture Cup
> Mick’s boy ready to show he can Doo it on the big stage
> Bonnington: The Cup of legends is ready to add another chapter
> Fourth time’s a charm as Gaths capture Great Southern Star
> Amazing plunge on Hunter Cup hope changes market
> Guerin: Hunter Cup night to reach new audience on Racing.com
> They’re coming from everywhere in search of Mercury80 glory
> Burning Questions: Nathan joins the crew for SOG double-header
> Aiken aiming at elusive features with trio of stable stars
