Taipo ready for Hunter Cup challenge

Ahead of the SENTrack A G Hunter Cup Brad Hewitt’s Taipo (American Ideal) might be the diamond in the rough heading into the $500,000 harness racing feature at the long odds of $101 with TAB.

The NSW trainer-driver has full confidence his seven-year-old can cause a stir after a strong fourth in the Neatline Homes Shepparton Pacing Cup.

“He will run at Menangle on Saturday (January 27), another top three or four finish there he would have to go close to getting in,” Hewitt said. “Five out of his last six starts have all been in group races and he has finished no further back than fourth.”

Hewitt is confident the foal out of American Ideal can match it with the best.

“That Kanena Provlima came out and won (Ballarat Cup), he beat it, even with Cya Art, who ran third at the Ballarat Cup, his form is as good as most.”

The bay gelding is primed and ready should a A G Hunter Cup run be on the cards come February 3.

“He’s been running in cups races over 2700,” he said. “He’s been racing over the distance over the last couple of months. He and Spirit Of St Louis and Cantfindabettorman will be racing one another this Saturday.”

The travel between Victoria and NSW isn’t a problem for the gelding.

“He’s a seven-year-old and he has done plenty of it (travel),” he said. “The weekend we came down it was really hot and he pulled up fine. I could have raced him again last week, but I would have had to leave him there. I had him nominated for the Casey Classic .. I just decided to keep him here at home.”

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria