Akuta shortens to $1.90 favourite for Cup

After another dominating win in the G2 Kaikoura Cup, Akuta (Bettor’s Delight) has been shortened to $1.90 in the betting market by the TAB for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on harness racing’s big day at Addington in fifteen days time.

“We were a bit slow away again but he was able to get round them to the lead and he was just too strong in the end,” driver Olivia Thornley said after the four year old beat Old Town Road (Bettor’s Delight) by an impressive two and a half lengths.

“I was a bit worried when the horse had to work around the field at that stage of the race because the speed seemed to be on. In hindsight she (Thornley) pulled the right rein at the right time, so it turned out well,” co-trainer Mark Purdon said.

Coming down the short South Bay straight, Old Town Road looked to be heading up to challenge Akuta but Thornley said she still had plenty of horse.

“He just picked the bit up and just wanted to keep going. He felt really good today and he’s definitely improved again from that run at Ashburton.”

The winning time of 2-55.9 was outside Lazarus’s track and race record of 2-54.3.

AKUTA REPLAY

Old Town Road’s run was full of merit. Driver Zachery Butcher had to use up some the horse’s potent sprinting talent when he elected to push second favourite Self Assured (Bettor’s Delight) wide just before heading past the 600.

Purdon says all he and training partner son Nathan have to do now is to keep Akuta ticking over.

“Each run has just tightened him a little bit and I’m pleased that with a tough run like today, that the next run will be the Cup. He’s as fit as we can have him, we just keep him at that level and we just maintain that until Cup Day.”

Today’s win was Mark Purdon’s 8^th in the South Bay feature pace.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink