They ran and they ran and they ran, and Tiger Tara was simply better than them.
Tonight’s A.G. Hunter Cup in a nutshell, as the Kevin Pizzuto-trained wonder horse from New South Wales added Victoria’s most prestigious Grand Circuit trophy to his cabinet at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The eight-year-old stallion already boasts the silverware from last year’s Victoria Cup and December’s Inter Dominion Grand Final.
And he didn’t just win those races either, he blitzed his opposition. All up, his accumulated winning margin for the three classics is 41.1m.
“He’s an amazing animal and he deserves everything this horse,” Pizzuto said.
“They said the horse wasn’t at his best tonight … but I told them he was. And he was.”
Tiger Tara started $1.90 favourite and won by a whopping 14.5 metres in a new track record mile rate of 1:53.2, smashing his own previous mark by 0.7secs.
“He’s an absolute pleasure to be a part of,” winning reinsman 25-year-old Todd McCarthy said.
“All credit to the horse and Kevin, who does such a great job with this horse.”
Our Uncle Sam finished second, making it the same quinella as the ID18 final, while San Carlo ran on hard for third ahead of warhorse veteran Flaming Flutter and the fast-finishing Buster Brady.
Photos: Ashlea Brennan Photography
Tiger Tara goes bang!! Leading the whole way and cruising off the back straight the Tiger gets the treble! Tiger Tara becomes the first horse to gain the Victorian Cup, Inter Dom and the Hunter Cup. Absolute champion!! The best pacer in the Southern Hemisphere! pic.twitter.com/Ha9W0Jr5WG
— TAB (@tabcomau) February 2, 2019
Tiger Tara!!!
That’s as good as I’ve ever seen a horse go at Melton, Lazarus included. Took 0.7sec of his own track record.— Adam Hamilton (@AdamTABSports) February 2, 2019
What an act of merciless brutality from Tiger Tara in the AG Hunter Cup. Staggering to watch top flight horses gasping for air in their attempts to go anywhere near him. Also mega proud of my boy San Carlo.
— Jason Bonnington (@JasonBonnington) February 2, 2019
Deadset not sure Lazarus would have beaten Tiger Tara right now and that’s not easy for me to say. #machine
— Blake Redden (@BlakeRedden) February 2, 2019
Tiger Tara is king of the world
— Jonnyturner (@turnitupnz) February 2, 2019
