A frustrating run this season could end for the connections of Cambridge galloper Hoopla at Tauranga today.
The Ralph Manning-trained Hoopla will be chasing the eighth win of his career in the Bayleys Commercial 1600, the main race at Racing Tauranga's meeting, and nobody could begrudge him a win.
"He's been really unlucky in each of his runs this season," said Manning.
"He deserves a change of luck."
Hoopla has proved a course specialist at Tauranga with three of his wins recorded on the track, but this term he has had to settle for two unlucky runs on the track.
Fresh-up he finished sixth at the Tauranga meeting on November 15, winding up less than two and a half lengths behind the upset winner, Lord Of Illusion, after having no luck in the run home when searching for a clear run.
He had even worse luck second-up on the track on November 26 when a certainty beaten behind the local Ella Sierra over 1300 metres.
He was held up until far too late then flew to wind up just being beaten by the Jim Pender-trained mare.
And last start it was again bad luck for Hoopla as he finished seventh of 11 behind Zahdeal and company over 1400 metres at Trentham when again held up inside the last 300 metres.
Today Hoopla faces a small but talented lineup and he looks a good chance to record not only an overdue win but his fourth at the 1600m distance.
Upsen Downs and Scarlet Rose are two other runners in the event who have performed well at Tauranga in the past and look likely to be Hoopla's main rivals.
Upsen Downs, a fresh-up ninth at Te Rapa, has won three on the track and two at the distance, while Scarlet Rose, a fair fourth at Matamata in her last appearance, has won four races on her home track and two at 1600.
Bunker, winner of last year's Bayer Classic, is the best-performed horse in the field being a group one winner, but he has been disappointing this term. But he could show improvement in this drop back in company.
- NZPA
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