Hunter Cup field taking shape as 22 nominated

The field for the 2023 Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup is taking shape, with nominations now closed for the Grand Circuit harness racing classic.

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) handicappers will mull over the 22 horses nominated for the $500,000 feature and reveal the final field of 12 (plus one emergency) after acceptances are taken at 2pm on Monday.

Master trainer Jason Grimson is best represented in the nominations with Inter Dominion champ I Cast No Shadow, Cranbourne and Bendigo cups victor Major Meister, top stablemate Sicario and Kiwi newcomer Betterzippit, while Emma Stewart has star trio Honolua Bay, Hurricane Harley and Mach Dan all in contention for a start in the February 4 showdown.

Last weekend’s Ballarat Pacing Cup victor Copy That is joined by Old Town Road as New Zealand-trained runners on the list of nominees, while New South Wales trainer Belinda McCarthy has entered top pacers Expensive Ego, Spirit Of St Louis and Mach Shard for a run in the great race.

Andy Gath’s emerging superstar Catch A Wave is the sole four-year-old among the nominations.

The field for the Del-Re National A. G. Hunter Cup will be revealed at thetrots.com.au on Monday afternoon before the barrier draw is broadcast live on Sky Racing from 9.30am Tuesday.

A.G. HUNTER CUP

FEBRUARY 4, TABCORP PARK MELTON

NOMINATIONS

BETTERZIPPIT (trained by Jason Grimson)

CATCH A WAVE (Andy Gath)

COPY THAT (Ray Green)

CRANBOURNE (David Aiken)

CRIME WRITER (Matthew Craven)

EXPENSIVE EGO (Belinda McCarthy)

HONOLUA BAY (Emma Stewart)

HURRICANE HARLEY (Emma Stewart)

I CAST NO SHADOW (Jason Grimson)

JILLIBY SYLVESTER (Margaret Lee)

MACH DAN (Emma Stewart)

MACH SHARD (Belinda McCarthy)

MAJOR MEISTER (Jason Grimson)

MAX DELIGHT (David Aiken)

OLD TOWN ROAD (John Dickie)

PETES SAID SO (KerryAnn Morris)

ROCK N ROLL DOO (Michael Stanley)

SICARIO (Jason Grimson)

SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS (Belinda McCarthy)

TORRID SAINT (Julie Douglas)

TRIPLE EIGHT (Jess Tubbs)

ZEUSS BROMAC (Paul Fitzpatrick)

From Harness Racing Victoria