By MICHAEL GUERIN
MELBOURNE - The cat may be let out of the bag at Moonee Valley tonight.
The cat is South Auckland pacer Ouch, whose incredible form reversal in the past month makes him the danger horse to the favourites in tonight's Hunter Cup.
Ouch undoubtedly has the ability to win the 3050m thriller, he always has.
But it is only in the past month that Ouch has started to show the courage to match his impressive physique.
At the start of last season Ouch looked a potential superstar when he came from last under free-for-all conditions to beat the best pacers in the North Island when only a class seven pacer.
The world was at Ouch's feet. But then it all went wrong. Trainer Geoff Small, who made the horse, battled to get him back to his best after a string of minor problems which added up to a wasted season.
After a season of frustration Ouch was sold, joined the Mark Purdon barn, and the frustration started again.
At the start of this season Purdon was sure he had a star and some close to the stable even backed him to win the New Zealand Cup. But when things got tough Ouch once again showed all the fight of a pussy cat.
"He disappointed me a few times early in the season," said Purdon yesterday. "But he has really turned the corner and with more luck he could have won the Victoria Cup two weeks ago."
Ouch was locked up well into the straight but flew for fourth in the Victoria Cup.
But while Purdon doesn't question Ouch's courage anymore he admits to being concerned about standing start manners tonight, especially from the ace.
"If he has to stand a while from the ace we could have problems.
"But if he steps and settles handy to the pace he will be right in the fight."
While Ouch has been the big improver, Purdon's other rep tonight Black Cam has been the biggest improver of the entire season.
Black Cam let the side down for the first time when he hung and could not be pulled out of the one-one in the Victoria Cup.
"He just wasn't quite right in the Victoria Cup but at his best he is a really top horse and I am sure we will see the best of him this week.
"This is the race we set him for and I couldn't be happier with him. I think with the right run he is the one they all have to beat."
Victory for either horse would give Purdon his first Hunter Cup, the only major Moonee Valley race in which he has yet to taste victory.
Racing: Ouch set to show claws
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