Methven feature preview – The Methven Cup

The “Road To the Cup” continues on Sunday at Geraldine with the running of the “Lazarus at Alabar” Methven Cup.

While this edition will not see the Mount Harding circuit being used due to track conditions it’s great to see the feature being held on the green stuff at Orari.

A strong field has been assembled too which is generally always the case for this premier grass track feature.

You have to go a long way back to identify the first trailblazers of the Methven Cup.

1927 would seem the year of the inaugural running with Colene Pointer the victor over the extreme two mile distance.  Taxpayer (1933) Southern Chief (1939) Gamble King (1945) and Dillondale (1947) are just some of the victors that prevailed off a 36 yard handicap while the 1963 winner of the event Vanderford managed to overcome a 48yd mark! Other famous names to appear on the trophy include Arapaho (1971) Freightman (1984) and Rapa Boy (1994)

In recent years horses trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen have dominated the race with Fly Like An Eagle (2012) Smolda (2016) and Chase Auckland (2019) just some of the victors from their training operation. Last year saw a competitive race with Spankem proving too strong for the eventual NZ Cup winner in Self Assured.

The field this year includes a number of chances that are all pressing for a NZ Cup start.

The Robert and Jenna Dunn stable have a very strong hand in things with no less than four chances. Steel The Show, run down recently at Addington, is possibly the strongest of their charges and has a handy #6 draw to operate from, his 4^th in the Geraldine Cup last year was a good one and he’s a tough type who should give a good account. Matt Damon and Somekindawonderful are probably horses that would need everything to go their way but are certainly capable of getting among the finish too while Franco Niven could well be the real improver and thus bolter in this field, he has a great finish on him and has won on the grass here before. He’ll definitely have something to offer late in this given his #1 draw.

The Brent White trained Cranbourne, so brave and big and bold, is coming off an impressive Addington win last week and should carry plenty of support from punters. The son of Sir Lincoln will see the tapes at Geraldine for the first time but has a grass track win to his name and will always be chance given his tough racing style.

Other chances include the Mark Jones trained Plutonium Lady who looks to be building nicely this time in and the Greg and Nina Hope trained Homebush Lad who always fines his happy place when racing on the grass and has a nice #2 draw to bounce out from and find a advantageous mid-race sit.

A duo of travellers, the Northern based Kango and the Southerner Vintage Cheddar (10m) round off the field.

It’s a great race on the grass and while it’s a pity that it’s not at Methven it’ll still be a fabulous feature.

Ben McMillan