NOG2001 Template
24
February, 2004
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Boom Kiwi stayer Just An Excuse (pictured) will
head an imposing New Zealand assault on this Saturday night?s $400,000 Hankook
Tyres Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley.
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Six New Zealand-trained pacers will line up in the
world?s richest handicap, including the Tim Butt-trained Mister D G, a son of
1994 & 95 Hunter Cup hero Blossom Lady.
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The Robert Mitchell-trained Just An Excuse, an emphatic
winner at his Australian debut in the Cadbury Ballarat Cup on 14 February, has
been installed the $2.60 TAB Sportsbet favourite despite sharing the 10 metre
backmark in a world class 14 horse field.
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Joining he and Mister D G on a potent Trans-Tasman raid
are the Barry Purdon-trained four-year-olds Miracle Man and Napoleon, along
with last start Moonee Valley Cup winner All Hart (Geoff Small) and
fast-finishing runner-up Jagged Account (Brent Lilley).
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Purdon is no stranger to Hunter Cup success having
prepared back-to-back winners of Australia?s premier harness race in 1996-97
with Vics Vance and Surprise Package.
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Leading the Aussies into battle will be hometown hero and
$6.50 second elect Sokyola ? a last start runner-up in the Ballarat Cup and a
winner of this season?s Miracle Mile. He?ll be ably supported by last year?s
Hunter Cup winner Mont Denver Gold amongst others.
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The field for the $400,000 Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup
(Group 1), to be run at 10pm (AEST) on 28 February over 3050 metres, is;
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1
|
21133
|
SIR ROMULUS (1 EM)
|
A.
BROWN
|
MATTHEW CRAVEN (C)
|
$35
|
FT
|
2
|
14031
|
MIRACLE MAN (NZ)
|
B.
PURDON
|
SCOTT PHELAN (C)
|
$9.00
|
FT
|
3
|
23652
|
JAGGED ACCOUNT (NZ)
|
B.
LILLEY
|
JOHN CALDOW
|
$12
|
FT
|
4
|
15304
|
JONELLS SON (VIC)
|
P.
MANNING
|
KERRYN GATH
|
$23
|
FT
|
5
|
39756
|
WALLY WALTON (VIC)
|
M.
GATH
|
MATTHEW GATH
|
$81
|
FT
|
6
|
30124
|
FLASHING RED (WA)
|
C.
WARWICK
|
JUSTIN WARWICK
|
$10
|
FT
|
7
|
04220
|
COUNTRY WAYS (NSW)
|
B.
HANCOCK
|
BLAKE FITZPATRICK (C)
|
$21
|
FT
|
--------------------Second
Row-----------
|
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8
|
32432
|
NAPOLEON (NZ)
|
B.
PURDON
|
TONY HERLIHY
|
$8.00
|
FT
|
9
|
57521
|
ALL HART (NZ)
|
G.
SMALL
|
DAVID BUTCHER
|
$26
|
FT
|
10
|
45312
|
TRICKY VIC (WA)
|
M.
REED
|
MARK REED
|
$41
|
FT
|
11
|
03314
|
MISTER D G (NZ) [ODS]
|
T.
BUTT
|
ANTHONY BUTT
|
$10
|
FT
|
12
|
12122
|
SOKYOLA
(VIC)
|
L.
JUSTICE
|
LANCE JUSTICE
|
$6.50
|
10m
|
13
|
12467
|
MONT DENVER GOLD (VIC)
|
B.
ALFORD
|
CHRIS ALFORD
|
$17
|
10m
|
14
|
33548
|
SMOOTH SATIN (NSW)
|
S.
TURNBULL
|
STEVE TURNBULL
|
$35
|
10m
|
15
|
31721
|
JUST AN EXCUSE (NZ)
|
R.
MITCHELL
|
TODD MITCHELL
|
$2.60
|
10m
|
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