Cup dilemma for May

Sunday’s Kurow Cup is set to produce one of the earliest New Zealand Cup decisions of the season.

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Cup king Ricky May takes the reins behind Kurow Cup backmarker and favourite Di Caprio who only needs to produce something like his excellent fifth in last year’s New Zealand Cup to prove incredibly hard to beat on at Oamaru.

On Sunday, May will pull on the same colours he wore to drive champion pacer Christian Cullen – those of trainer Brian O’Meara.

May famously gave up his drive behind Christian Cullen out of loyalty to reigning New Zealand Cup winner Iraklis.

The Kurow Cup result could put the seven-time New Zealand Cup winning reinsman in the same position this season – albeit on a much different scale.

Di Caprio (Shadow Play) is on a one-way path to the New Zealand Cup and next fortnight’s Maurice Holmes Vase.

As is May’s regular drive A G’s White Socks.

“I got off Christian Cullen to drive Iraklis in the Miracle Mile and it turned out I chose the wrong horse,” the champion reinsman said.

“Though loyalty had a lot to do with it.”
“I might do the same next week if both of these horses go to Addington, I might choose the wrong horse again.”

“Di Caprio is a lovely pacer, he’s got a great attitude and his run in the cup last year was great.”

“I know he stuck to the fence but he still went very good.”

“A G’s White Socks is a great stayer and he is right up there with any horse on ability, he has just got to get his manners right at the start.”

“I drove him at the trials and he gave me a great feel, I was really thrilled with him, to be honest.”

“I haven’t made any commitments at this stage, we will see how things work out.”

Di Caprio has pleased May in his two trial wins leading into his new season return.

Though his performance before them at the Ashburton workouts wasn’t quite as promising.

“He probably wouldn’t have beaten a maiden in his first workout, but his two trials after that were good.”

“I have spoken to Brian since then and he is really happy with the horse now.”

May’s only concern on Sunday is Di Caprio getting too far off the pace from his 25m back mark.

“I hope he doesn’t end up too far off them, you have got to be pretty handy at Oamaru.”

“Hopefully he isn’t too far away, if they bowl along it would suit him.”

May combines with three more horses on Kurow Cup day.

He and father Terry will line up Voyeur for the second time at the races following her fourth on debut at Addington last weekend.

The four-year-old just needs to make a better beginning to be and even better chance in race 5.

“She’s not a bad mare but she got injured and she had to have a long time off.”

“She went pretty good at Addington, it was just a shame she was slow away.”

May also combines with the Eilish Hall in race 1 and Auchtercairn in race 2 on Kurow Cup day.

by Jonny Turner