By MICHAEL GUERIN
MELBOURNE - On the eve of the richest harness race of the year Lorraine Nolan is perfectly calm.
The Taranaki grandmother isn't getting too stirred up over the chances of her defending Hunter Cup champion Yulestar. She is relaxed about the 20m handicap in a race which has become the property of front markers. As for the betting plunges which have seen Yulestar shorten from $8.50 to $4.50 favourite in just two days - no problem.
It hasn't always been like this. Just three months ago Nolan was so nervous about Yulestar being favourite for the New Zealand Cup she had to go to the doctor.
"I was a mess. I got myself in such a stew I felt sick all the time. I was getting cold sores and migraines and was unable to sleep," she admitted yesterday.
So what has turned this nervous nana into the most relaxed trainer leading into tonight's $A400,000 Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley.
A trip to a lowly midweek meeting at Kilmore on Tuesday where Nolan found herself in front of a huge cabinet containing trophies and photos of the great Kilmore horseman Vin Knight.
Knight was the superstar of harness horsemen. Charismatic and talented he was a natural winner and a natural talker. He was the face of harness racing in Australia.
That was until April 4, 1991 when Knight parked his car on the side of the road, put a shotgun to his head and blew that face off.
It was a tragedy which still haunts Victorian harness racing and his ghost taught Nolan an important lesson.
"I had been getting riled up about this race too until I stood there and looked at all the great races Vinny Knight had won and realised they don't really matter.
"The most important thing is to enjoy the moment because you never know when it is all going to be over. We have got a great horse and I am going to enjoy him."
That attitude has flowed through to the training of Yulestar, the greatest stayer New Zealand has produced since Luxury Liner.
Nolan used to be criticised as the amateur lady trainer who would have been better off getting a professional to train a horse as good as Yulestar.
"I don't worry about that any more. We have won a lot of big races with him I don't believe we have anything left to prove."
So Nolan has stuck to her guns this week, giving Yulestar his final serious pre-cup hitout alone instead of in the company of training legend Robert Cameron, with whom they are staying. Nolan trusted the judgment of herself and husband Ron.
"He worked as well as he ever has this week and I think he is better than when he was beaten in the Victoria Cup.
"I think he is right back to his New Zealand Cup form."
That day Yulestar paced a world record for 3200m and could have gone a second faster. A repeat of that performance tonight and a 20m handicap won't be enough to stop him even in this outstanding field.
A big key to Yulestar's chances will be how quickly he can begin. If he makes a flier as he did in the New Zealand and Auckland Cups then he will be in front of most of his main dangers inside 500m. From there driver Tony Shaw can launch an attack for the lead, where Yulestar runs his best races.
If Yulestar does lead then it will take a super horse to run him down.
The most obvious danger in any scenario will be Black Cam, who is back to his best after only a steady performance in the Victoria Cup. He is well suited by tonight's standing start over 3050m and will handle the Moonee Valley track a lot better against the inside markers.
Ouch, who has a slight manners query, Pocket Me, who will do things right but will need to and Holmes D G, who may be back to his best, give New Zealand a huge chance of continuing our great record in the race.
But it won't be easy.
Shakamaker is still racing on his home track where he has proved so lethal in the past and has the sprint to win.
Atitagain has been the second most consistent horse on the Grand Circuit after Yulestar and handled the standing start well in the Ben Hur last season so could be the value option of the New Zealand tote, while Safe And Sound and Sailor's Corner are blowout chances.
But a gutbusting 3050m with all the big guns at peak should come down to who is the best stayer. And that is Yulestar.
If he wins he will become a millionaire and only the fourth horse to defend the Hunter Cup.
If he doesn't he will still be a hero to Lorraine Nolan.
Racing: Ghost calms Nolan ahead of big task
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