WHO will make this Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup field?

Before I have a crack at guessing, let’s delve into the question further.

I just love the fact everyone is asking the question, giving opinions and debating the merits of some contenders.

After years of Covid-impacted major races where the Kiwis and interstate horses couldn’t or didn’t travel as much, we’re back.

The Ballarat Cup was a ripper field, the Hunter Cup will be better again and some awesome open class racing looms large for NSW over the next month.

Back to the Hunter Cup field.

Just as he did a few months back with the Victoria Cup, trainer Andy Gath has thrown a cat amongst the pigeons by declaring he wants to tackle the race with his brilliant young pacer Catch A Wave.

More on him soon.

Now, let’s get into it.

I think – and this is just my opinion – there are nine “locks” for the 12 spots in Saturday night’s Hunter Cup.

I’ll be stunned if any of these don’t get a run (and not in any order):

  •        Expensive Ego
  •        Spirit Of St Louis
  •        Honolua Bay
  •        Copy That
  •        I Cast No Shadow
  •        Major Meister
  •        Mach Dan
  •        Old Town Road
  •        Rock N Roll Doo

That’s on the proviso Rock N Roll Doo’s connections accept for the race, which now looks very likely.

Looking back on the mindset of the field selectors for our biggest races in recent years, I think Torrid Saint is a lock, too.

Torrid Saint ran second in the Inter Dominion final less than two months ago. Yes, his form hasn’t been as good since, but history tells me he’s as good as in next week’s field.

If I’m right, that leaves just one two spots and a batch of horses with widely varying credentials fighting for those spots.

One of those in the batch is the classy and rejuvenated Hurricane Harley, but I expect connections to keep him to sprint racing with the Miracle Mile in mind.

So, I see six pacers are jousting for the last two spots are (again, in no order):

  •        Catch A Wave
  •        Petes Said So
  •        Cranbourne
  •        Triple Eight
  •        Max Delight
  •        Zeuss Bromac

Let’s start with Catch A Wave because he is the X-factor of the field selection debates,

He’s just turned four and has won 14 of his 18 starts.

There is no doubt he’s got the talent to be very competitive with the right draw in this Hunter Cup, but what measure do you use to decide if he gets a run?

If it was the old Peter V’Landys days at Harold Park around Miracle Mile time, Catch A Wave would be a lock because of the excitement factor he would bring to the race.

But this is Victoria and history says it’s a lot more conservative and the emphasis is on form in big open-class races.

Gut feel? I don’t think he’ll get a run … but I hope my gut is wrong.

I just think he’d bring so much to the plate next Saturday night.

The other six all have proven good open-class form, but what varies is where and how recently.

Petes Said So has very strong claims. He’s NSW-trained, but ran really well through the Inter Dominion heats and finished a solid sixth in the final.

Much will depend on the weight the selectors put in his three terrific runs since returning to NSW.

But he did beat Expensive Ego in 1min49.3sec last Saturday week. Surely that’s enough?

I think so.

Cranbourne had good NZ form, but his best hope of getting in is that Shepparton Cup win. Against that, he didn’t seem to back-up a week later when slightly disappointing in the Ballarat Cup.

Triple Eight had no hope of getting in, but then he ran that blinder in the Ballarat Cup. It’s  recent and strong.

Max Delight was ultra-consistent before a 10th from a bad draw in the Ballarat Cup, He did win a Victoria Cup, but may struggle to get in.

Then there is Zeuss Bromac. He was solid through the Inter Dominion heats, made the final and ran fifth.

He didn’t help his cause by returning from a let-up with a sixth behind Spirit Of St Louis last Saturday night.

As exciting as Jason Grimson’s latest Kiwi import Betterzippit looks, his two restricted class wins since crossing the ditch simply aren’t enough to get him into a Hunter Cup field with this sort of depth.

Long story, I’d give the last two spots to Petes Said So and Catch A Wave.

But I think the selectors may go with Petes Said and Triple Eight or Cranbourne.

Thanks for working through the process with me and whatever the final field is, we’re set for the strongest Hunter Cup in many years.

Bring it on.

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.