By MICHAEL GUERIN
Northern hopes of defending the New Zealand Trotting Cup received a boost yesterday.
The barrier draw for Tuesday's $350,000 classic played right into the hooves of the North Island's best pacers.
It was perfect for northern-trained fast beginners Facta Non Verba and Kliklite, who drew in close enough to step to an early lead.
And the three well-favoured northerners who can occasionally bobble from a stand - Holmes D G, Bogan Fella and Mac De Stroyer - have all drawn wide on the front line, once the emergencies are removed, meaning they will have to stand for less time than those inside them. Usually the shorter time a horse has to stand the better chance it has of stepping away safely.
The connections of Yulestar were also thrilled after the giant pacer drew the outside of the 10m mark, giving the big gelding plenty of room to find his feet early with no chance of getting locked away on the markers.
Another boost for the northerners is the poor draws for two of their key rivals, southern favourite Chloe Hanover and NSW raider Zyuganov Leis.
They will be the only two horses on the second line, the worst two draws as they will be sandwiched between the front line and the 10m barrier strand.
That is a worry for Chloe Hanover in particular as she has struggled to begin cleanly this campaign.
But the second line draw has not stopped support coming for Zyuganov Leis, who is now fifth favourite at $9. Holmes D G retains favouritism at $4.50, just ahead of Yulestar at $4.75.
The latter was impressive at yesterday's Rangiora trials. After settling back in the hands of trainer Ron Nolan he paced his last 800m in 55.2 seconds four wide to finish third behind trial winner Happy Asset, who has trailed for most of the 2600m.
Another northerner to catch the eye was Agua Caliente, who sat parked and was not asked for his best to beat Cigar in a mobile 2600m trial, pacing his last 800m in 55.9 seconds.
He starts from the outside of the front line in the free-for-all on Tuesday, in which Stars And Stripes will start off the second line.
Champion trotter Lyell Creek trotted his last 800m in 56.7 seconds to cruise into second behind Sundowner Bay in yesterday's main trot trial.
The fields for the two features next Tuesday are. -
6 3.15: NRM SIRES' FINAL $150,000, 3yo mobile pace, 1950m Jaguar Royal (1), I'vecomealongway (2), Eastwood Pegasus (3), Bunch Of Tricks (4), Franco Jurist (5), Areeba (6), Falcon Strike (7), Malmesbury (8), Franco Heir (9), Young Rufus (10), Niobium (11), Parisian Falcon (12), Pure Virtuoso (13), City Rogue (14), Barney Bear (15) fr. Ems: Pure Virtuoso, Franco Jurist.
8 4.30: CANTERBURY DRAUGHT NEW ZEALAND CUP $350,000, OC, 3200m Facta Non Verba (1), Stars And Stripes (2), Under Cover Lover (3), Seafield Raider (4), Kliklite (5), Kym's Girl (6), Tartan Lady (7), The Tough Nut (8), Holmes D G (9), Annie's Boy (10), Bogan Fella (11), Mac De Stroyer (12), Zyuganov Leis (13), Chloe Hanover (14) fr, Breeny's Fella (1), Happy Asset (2), Yulestar (3) 10. Ems: Tartan Lady, Stars And Stripes.
Racing: New Zealand Cup defence boosted by barrier draws
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