Alta Serena took a stranglehold on Auckland Trotting Cup favouritism at Alexandra Park last night.
The outstanding mare emerged as one of the few key Cup contenders to cover herself in glory as the open class season continued to produce more average performances than good ones.
With the Auckland Cup
just a week away Alta Serena drew first blood when she led throughout to win last night's feature, the $50,000 Queen of Hearts, proving she had travelled home well after her luckless fifth in last Saturday's Victoria Ciup.
After pacing the first 800m of that race in 56 seconds before holding out to win untested she was already guaranteed Auckland Cup favouritism.
But her grip tightened two races later when many of the other favoured runners showed little to recommend in their final lead-up, the $25,000 Summer Cup.
The race was won by Lord Vader, who also led throughout to beat trail Napoleon, with Bobs Blue Boy making good ground into third after being four deep on the markers.
But the race was just as significant for the failure of Just An Excuse and White Arrow, both of whom finished a long way from the winner.
Even allowing for natural improvement because they had not raced for over a month they still look lengths off being Auckland Cup winners next Saturday.
It may fall to Howard Bromac, who settled last of the bunch but at least made to be Alta Serena's biggest threat.
Lord Vader's win has guaranteed him a spot in Saturday's feature and suggested he won't be the worst hope.
His trainer Shane Hayes is not even thinking about winning an Auckland Cup yet, simply happy to be back in the Alexandra Park winner's circle after a major race.
Hayes was a prominent West Auckland trainer a decade ago before moving to Victoria, returning home last year with Lord Vadser as his stable flagship.
"This is a dream result for us because I set a long-term goal of getting him a start in the Auckland Cup and then maybe heading back to Victoria for the Hunter Cup with him," said Hayes.
"So at least we are on the target for the first half of that."
Lord Vader will give driver David Butcher his chance at a third consecutive Auckland Cup win after reining retired champion Elsu to win the last two.
