By MICHAEL GUERIN
Trainer John Lischner is not giving up on the New Zealand Cup with Stars And Stripes.
The Pacer of the Year burned punters with one of the worst placings of his career in the Ashburton Flying Stakes yesterday but it was not his fault.
The 4-year-old favourite was getting ready to unleash his dynamic sprint at the 300m point when he was held up then checked again a few strides later before finishing sixth in his comeback race.
The performance means Stars And Stripes needs to win next Monday's Kaikoura Cup to start in the New Zealand Cup, for which he is fifth favourite at $8.
"We will head to Kaikoura and press on trying to make the New Zealand Cup field," said Lischner.
"We are not putting any pressure on him to make it but he deserves his chance.
"I think this race showed he can foot it with the open class horses already and he will be better for that run, both fitness wise and in gaining some ringcraft.
"Today was one of the first times he has had to race in the field like that and take the knocks an open class horse has to get used to.
"If he wins at Kaikoura then we will give him his shot at the Cup but if he doesn't we haven't lost anything by trying and his main aim will become the free-for-all on Show Day."
But the Cup hopes of northern pacer Ouch ended when he was a disappointing seventh after an economical trip. He settled four deep, was expertly rated by Tony Herlihy but was clearly outfinished by stablemate Bogan Fella and The Tough Nut, who came from behind him.
He needs two wins to graduate to open class and with only one race left before the Cup he will not be in the great race.
It was not all bad news for trainer Mark Purdon after the Flying Stakes.
He was happy with the charging late run of Bogan Fella, who came from near last for third.
The win reaffirmed Bogan Fella as a serious Cup contender as he is at his best when the pace is on.
"He is getting fitter all the time and is a Cup chance because he is such a great stayer," said Purdon.
Easter Cup winner Facta Non Verba provided one of the early shocks of yesterday's race when the usually brilliant beginner galloped and lost all chance.
"He will have to head to Kaikoura now because he will need a race under his belt before the Cup," said driver Todd Mitchell.
The Kaikoura Cup is now looking as good a New Zealand Cup lead-up as yesterday's race.
As well as Stars And Stripes, Facta Non Verba, Bogan Fella and Happy Asset backing up from the Flying Stakes the race will also host northern stars Holmes D G and Mac De Stroyer in their first southern starts of the season.
Racing: Stars And Stripes still chasing place in Cup
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