By MICHAEL GUERIN
The champ could be coming home.
Wonder horse Courage Under Fire - who appeared lost to New Zealand racing forever when controversially transferred to a Sydney stable in February - has the Auckland Cup on his agenda.
Trainer Brian Hancock, who took over the champ from Canterbury's Bruce Negus the day after his shock Interdominion Grand Final failure, has confirmed the Auckland Cup is a target for the pacing hero.
Courage Under Fire had his first public workout for Hancock three weeks ago and paced his final 800m in 57.5 seconds before having a week off.
The tiny stallion, who set a New Zealand record by winning 24 races on end to start his career, is just two weeks away from racing and will have another near race-speed workout between races at Bulli next Monday.
"Then it is just a matter of finding a race for him, which may not be that easy because there are not a lot of open class horses around at this time of the year and he might scare some away," said Hancock.
"But he is ready to race and is ahead of schedule."
Hancock says the hoof injury which caused Courage Under Fire's downfall at the Interdoms has disappeared.
"His hoof is perfect and at this stage I can't see a reason it would flare up again."
Courage Under Fire will race in New South Wales before heading to Queensland for the first two legs of the Grand Circuit in late October.
There is no chance of him returning to Addington for the New Zealand Cup with his owner Greg Brodie obsessed by winning the Miracle Mile which this season is run just 10 days after the Cup.
"The Miracle Mile has to be the first big aim with him and there are plenty of good races to get him ready for that over here."
But safely through the Miracle Mile, Courage Under Fire could be heading to Alexandra Park.
Brodie is not keen for the 5-year-old to head to Perth for the West Australian Cup and with the other major Australian race in December - the Tasmanian Pacing Championship - only worth $A100,000 the Auckland Cup fits in perfectly.
"I can leave Sydney airport and have him in his box at Purdon's place in just four hours, which makes it even closer than some of the big tracks over here."
The Auckland Cup is on December 15 and has been boosted to $250,000 this season, with the $75,000 City of Auckland Free-For-All on December 27.
"They are good races for good stakes and providing things go well they are very real possibilities."
Hancock has never been a fan of 3200m standing start races but the Auckland Cup is especially attractive as Courage Under Fire is guaranteed to start off the front line.
To be handicapped in either the Auckland or New Zealand Cups a horse must win a race worth more than $200,000 at a distance further than 2400m. Courage Under Fire has yet to do that and will not contest such a race before Auckland Cup time.
Hancock's willingness to bring Courage Under Fire home is also a compliment to the Alexandra Park track, which he rates as vastly superior to five years ago.
"Before they changed the track a few years ago it was tough for our horses going right-handed but it is a far better track now. That was proved during the Interdominions last season."
That was the series where Hancock's all-time favourite Our Sir Vancelot became the first horse to win three Interdominions.
And the New South Wales training legend says there are real similarities between Our Sir Vancelot and his new champ.
"He is like Sandy [Our Sir Vancelot] all over again. He doesn't pace the same but he has the same characteristics.
"Those really top horses do. They are great to work with and this fella is no different."
Hancock believes Courage Under Fire has grown both up and out but as the dominant horseman on the Grand Circuit in the last five years he is aware how tough this season will be.
"He was a champion young horse but now he has to prove himself in open class.
"The Grand Circuit is never easy and just because we [Australia] have this horse and Shakamaker I wouldn't write the Kiwis off just yet.
"I still have plenty of time for Holmes D G and Yulestar and there could always be good 3-year-olds from last season coming through.
"But at this stage I couldn't be happier."
And neither could the Auckland Trotting Club.
Racing: Courage returning home
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