Hunter Cup an option for Cantfindabettorman

A second consecutive Inter Dominion Pacers Consolation harness racing win for talented five-year-old Cantfindabettorman (Sweet Lou) might have the Isabel Walsh-trained gelding feeling like the bridesmaid and never the bride.

The Chris Alford driven son by Sweet Lou just missed the $500,000 final after winning the first heat at Newcastle before disappointing seventh and ninth place finishes at Bathurst and Menangle the following two heats.

“He went very good again and has pulled up very well and has got a week off on the grass,” Walsh said.

“We have spoken to the owners this morning and are going to assess him after that and then head into the Hunter Cup.”

The February 1 Sportsbet A G Hunter Cup is definitely an option for the winner of over $400,000.

“He will look towards the country cups in early 2025, depending on how he handles the week off and what comes of him,” she said.

“The Hunter Cup is definitely on his radar.”

The rigorous back-to-back heats into final schedule of the Inter Dominion might have been too much for the son out of Bettor Be A Lady after a taxing trip across New South Wales.

“He is good enough to be there (the final) and things just went a little bit pear shaped in-between and he didn’t really handle the quick turn around to Bathurst and he went a bit wrong there,” Walsh said.

“The week between the last heat and the final gave him a chance to turn things around.”

The Ballarat (Jan 18) and Shepparton Cup (Jan 11) are the ideal lead-up preparations heading into the Group 1 classic.

“It will be a traditional run-up to the Hunter Cup, if his form is good enough and his selection we will look at the Cup,” Walsh said.

He has won 20 of 62 career starts and is currently on the fifth line of betting in early Hunter Cup markets.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria