One of the most even fields in history has been assembled to contest Australia’s premier harness race, the $500,000 Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup, this Sunday afternoon at Moonee Valley.
To be run for the first time in daylight, the world’s richest handicap has brought together the best of the best from Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand for what shapes as an intriguing test of speed, stamina, manners and courage.
TAB Sportsbet have installed a trio of equal favourites after the barrier draw for the gruelling 3050-metre marathon was held today at a unique outdoor luncheon at Moonee Valley.
Hometown heroes Robin Hood (10-metres) and Sting Lika Bee (front) sit atop the betting market at $6.50 alongside Auckland Cup winner Howard Bromac (10-metres).
Queensland ace Slipnslide (10-metres) is rated the next best at $7 and will carry a hefty weight of expectation into battle with one lucky listener of Melbourne’s Gold 104.3 radio station set to share in 10 percent of any prizemoney he wins.
The field for the $500,000 Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup (3050m), to be run at 5.45pm (AEST) this Sunday at Moonee Valley under standing start conditions, is;
| 1 |
| ABOUT TO ROCK (VIC) | A. GATH | KATE THOMPSON (C) | $11 |
| 2 |
| MONEY MAGNET (WA) | G. BOND | COLIN BROWN | $11 |
| 3 |
| MAHEER LORD (WA) | G. WILLIAMS | GRANT WILLIAMS | $12 |
| 4 |
| DINKI DI (NSW) | C. FRISBY | JACK BUTLER | $21 |
| 5 |
| TROMOS (VIC) | J. DAVIES | CHRIS ALFORD | $21 |
| 6 |
| NO BLUE MANNA (WA) | C. WARWICK | JUSTIN WARWICK | $16 |
| 7 |
| BOBS BLUE BOY (NZ) | S. ROULSTON | CRAIG THORNLEY | $31 |
| ----------Second Row----------- | |
| 8 |
| LOOKSLIKELIGHTNING (WA) | P. KEATING | RYAN WARWICK (C) | $31 |
| 9 |
| STING LIKA BEE (VIC) [ods] | B. TUDDENHAM | DAVID MURPHY | $6.50 |
| 10 |
| BLACKS A FAKE (QLD) [ods] | N. RASMUSSEN | NATALIE RASMUSSEN | (Emerg) |
| 11 |
| WINFORU (NZ) [ods] | G. SMALL | DAVID BUTCHER | $18 |
|
|
| ----------- 10 metres------------ |
|
|
|
| 12 |
| SLIPNSLIDE (QLD) | L. MCCARTHY | LUKE MCCARTHY | $7.00 |
| 13 |
| ROBIN HOOD (VIC) | P. TONKIN | GAVIN LANG | $6.50 |
| 14 |
| HOWARD BROMAC (NZ) | K. LARSEN | KIRK LARSEN | $6.50 |
|
|
| -----------20 metres------------- |
|
|
|
| 15 |
| BE GOOD JOHNNY (QLD) | J. MCCARTHY | JOHN MCCARTHY | $9.00 |
Harness Racing Victoria advised that owing to its maximum field policy, the emergency Blacks A Fake can only gain a run if one of the 10 front-markers are scratched.
