First stop Ararat as Fennell takes Van on the road in Cups pursuit

South Australian-trained Van Mara begins a two-state cups campaign at Ararat on Sunday.

Mt Gambier trainer Steven Fennell takes the nine-year-old into the Group 3 $30,000 Renown Silverware Ararat Pacing Cup second-up from a break.

Fennell is looking to use Ararat as a spring-board into to a new-look SA Cups Carnival before, possibly, some more border-hopping to other legs of Victoria’s Trots Country Cups Championship.

This is the first time Fennell has gone on the cups trail with Van Mara since claiming the veteran of 28 wins in 126 starts from the Victorian stable of Kate Hargreaves at Melton in May last year.

Fennell said he claimed the NZ-bred Van Mara on the recommendation of Terang reinsman Jason Lee, a punt that’s exceeded all expectations.

After finishing second at his first outing for Fennell, Van Mara strung together eight consecutive wins at Globe Derby Park from mid-June to mid-September.

“We thought he’d be competitive in Adelaide. We didn’t expect him to win eight straight though. He’s been a good horse for us,” he said.

The timing could not be better for Fennell to have a country cups class campaigner in his team, which stables at Mt Gambier’s Greenwald Paceway.

Harness Racing SA is this season restricting its feature cups, culminating with the SA Pacing Cup on April 30, to South Australian-trained horses.

Fennell is confident Van Mara can run a forward race in Ararat despite the field being much stronger than he had envisaged.

“He’s come back well,” he said. “He can run a place with the right trip.”

Van Mara, to be driven by Codi Rauchenberger for the first time, has drawn what appears an ideal gate for him – inside the second row behind quick-beginning last-start Melton winner Highway To Heaven.

Fennell believed classy four-year-old Kimble, fresh from a third to Bondi Lockdown in the Group 1 DNR Logistics 4YO Bonanza, could cross to the lead, giving Van Mara the chance to settle third on the pegs. He said that would be an ideal spot.

The Cup has attracted one of the best fields it has seen in many years.

Last year’s winner Zadaka returns off a last-start third in the Wedderburn Cup and the all-conquering NSW stable of Belinda McCarthy has top class mare Bettor Robyn engaged.

There is also SA Cup runner-up and regular country cups competitor Perfect Stride, former smart youngster Demon Delight continuing his comeback from a long-term injury, and regular free-for-allers Major Roll, Torrid Saint and Bettor Be The Bomb.

The 10-race program at Russell T White Raceway also includes the Group 3 $25,000 Mountain View Stud Ararat Trotters Cup over 2570m.

The Andy Gath-trained Peakz Luck, a winner of three of her past four starts, is the favourite ahead of last-start Melton winner Margaret Ruth and Robbie Royale.