By MICHAEL GUERIN
Todd Mitchell is having a recurring dream - it involves the second Tuesday in November, a gold cup and a Waikato pacer.
Only one thing in the dream has changed. The pacer.
This time last year Mitchell dared to dream he would win harness racing's holy grail, the New Zealand Trotting Cup, with Homin Hosed.
That dream came true when the Matangi pacer grabbed victory off Holmes D G by a nose, providing the highlight of Mitchell's career and setting up his most lucrative season.
The Cambridge driver has since gone on to win an Easter Cup and well over 50 other races, making him the leading reinsman in the Waikato.
Injury will prevent Homin Hosed from defending the New Zealand Cup but Mitchell is dreaming of the great race again, this time with Facta Non Verba.
The pair took two steps closer to that goal by clean sweeping the Toast.Com series in Brisbane.
By winning his heat on Tuesday, Facta Non Verba graduated to open class, ensuring himself a New Zealand Cup start.
And by winning Saturday night's $A40,000 Final, Facta Non Verba proved he is now physically maturing into a genuine Cups contender.
Facta Non Verba had few problems justifying his $1.30 favouritism in the 2138m mobile.
He was parked early before Mitchell secured the one-one after 500m and was only asked to make his race-winning dash at the 400m, sprinting his last 800m in 57.8 seconds to win by three and a quarter metres in a 1:58.3 mile rate.
"He really won easily and showed that he is physically better than he has ever been," said Mitchell.
Facta Non Verba was troubled by a hoof problem over the summer and co-trainer Mike Berger thought of spelling the gelding for six months after his Auckland Cup failure.
But advice from training great Barry Purdon changed his mind.
Purdon drove Facta Non Verba in the Auckland Cup and told Berger he may struggle to get Facta Non Verba back to his best as a 6-year-old if he was spelled for so long.
"So Mike has put a lot of work into the hoof and it is the best it has been, which is important if he is going to be a real force in open class."
Mitchell says while Facta Non Verba winning New Zealand's greatest race would have seemed impossible six months ago a lot has changed since then.
His Easter Cup win in April showed the son of Tuapeka Knight could run 3200m in the best class and also confirmed he has the manners to get the crucial economical trip needed to win a race like the Cup.
"And we also know now that some of the best horses around like Yulestar, Happy Asset and co will be off handicaps in the Cup.
"I am not saying Facta Non Verba will win the Cup but at the start of this season I had my doubts Homin Hosed could win the Cup too. It will just be great to have another winning hope in the race."
Facta Non Verba still has some unfinished business in Queensland before returning to New Zealand.
He is early favourite for the $A30,000 Sunshine Sprint on August 5 and the $A75,000 Winter Cup on August 12.
"After that Mike wants to bring him home and give him a month off before getting ready for Addington."
The win also continued Berger's resurgance as a trainer in the last three seasons, which should continue as Facta Non Verba looks set to become a Grand Circuit player next season.
* Champion filly Tupelo Rose has suffered a shock defeat a week out from the Australian Oaks.
The multiple group one winner was only third behind former New Zealand battler Seinfeld in a 3-year-old race at Moonee Valley on Saturday night.
Seinfeld, who could not get out of class one in New Zealand, has taken on a new lease of life since joining the Peter Manning stable in Victoria.
Racing: Brisbane dominance starts Mitchell dreaming of NZ Cup victory again
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.