The Taranaki GRC will host their annual TAB meeting at the Hatrick Raceway on Monday afternoon and it’s a rather competitive, even looking field who will line up in the $6,500 Croucher & Crowder Taranaki Cup (race 11) over 520m.
Pictured: Trojan Hoarse who continues to deliver competitive races in strong fields
It comes as no surprise to see the powerful Lisa Cole kennels completely dominating the drawn field with six contenders (plus the first reserve). Included in her assault on this Provincial Cup is last year’s winner Bigtime Levi, who returned to winning form at the right time via his stylish 25.89s Monday C4 457m win. Drawing the six trap on Monday isn’t likely to harm his repeat claims as he is generally sighted racing in the middle of the track before delivering his known strong finish. He will be sighted running out his C4 nominations over 520m here on Friday.
There’s no doubting the competitiveness of Ask King Jeff at the top level of racing. After all he is the current leader board runner for the City of Palmerston North Golden Chase. The concern for this bloke is his one trap draw. Sure, he has featured from that trap before, however he is known to normally race out in the middle of the track. It can be taken as read that he’ll be sighted doing his best work at the business end of this event.
Drawing alongside him is his kennelmate Trojan Hoarse. Geez, does this fella deserve a feature race win or what! He continues to take on all comers. He continues to set the pace, then he continues to be run down over the concluding stages. He can be expected to contest the pace again from his handy two trap draw – it’s a case of what happens behind him that’s likely to decide where he finishes.
Bigtime Caleb is returning to 520m racing for this event after his recent Manukau 318m sprints where he finished up being the first reserve for the Group 1 Railway Sprint. He is a proven 520m chaser around this circuit and he can make things interesting for a long way if he hops straight onto the early pace.
All About Space contested the $90,000 Auckland Cup final last Sunday, where after trying to get handy early on from the one trap, she basically ran out of racing room when rounding the first turn. She is required to hop away from trap eight on Monday, which is ironically the trap that she qualified for the Auckland Cup from. She has no option but to quickly position herself into a forward early possie from out there.
Taranaki Cup contenders includes (from left): Bigtime Levi; Bigtime Caleb; All About Space
Bigtime Mia hasn’t been provided with any racing favours after being allocated the five trap to be loaded away into. She was last presented over 520m six weeks ago when she ran out of racing room and fell when going into the first turn. She does own a handy best 30.18s winning time, however again a quick start is required by her.
Don’t Knocka Gee is the first reserve and she’ll present a tough task on how to assess her claims if she gains a race start here. There’s certainly no denying her raw ability - after all she has scampered over 520m around here in a slick 29.86s and she was an Auckland Cup finalist. She detests being caught up in traffic and that’s her issue, as she requires clear early racing room to display her known talents.
Nature’s Gent requires no introduction here. After all he is a dual 520m Group 1 winner at this venue and that factor alone says he demands upmost respect here. He is prepared by the inform trainer Angela Turnwald and he’s making his return here after his recent Auckland Cup series misses. He will be sighted wearing his trainers’ favourite racing colour – the blue! Don’t ignore his claims in this feature event.
Cawbourne Liz has been competitively sprinting in her recent races for her trainer Matt Roberts. She will warm up for this task by contesting a Hatrick 305m dash on Friday. She is proven over 520m and drawing out in trap seven isn’t likely to harm her stake earning claims here. She has returned to the podium in all seven of races from out there (three wins).
The stake claim owned by the second reserve Tyson’s Quest couldn’t be lightly dismissed if he’s required here. He has matched up to the best of them at times over 520m and his trainer Brian Marsh will also return him to 520m racing if needed here after his recent sprints.
Taranaki Cup contenders includes (from left): Nature’s Gent; Cawbourne Liz; Tyson’s Quest
By Peter Fenemor
