Racing: Auckland Cup suddenly gets more intriguing

Mark Purdon (blue) drives Smolda to victory over Hectorjayjay (9) in the $A1.1 million Inter Dominion Final in Perth on Friday night. Photo / Jodie Hallows

Inter Dominion hero Smolda may not be coming home for the Auckland Cup but the hard luck story of the race is.

And Franco Nelson's surprise return for the December 31 classic at Alexandra Park creates more intrigue about the great race after it initially looked set to fall short of expectations.

When it first became evident the Cup would be without NZ Cup winner Lazarus and almost certainly defending champion Have Faith In Me, it could have easily started to look like the Grand Circuit's version of low-hanging fruit.

But it is instead shaping as one of the most even open class races of the season, bringing together a field of group one winners very similar in ability or recent form.

Glamour mare Dream About Me heads Cup betting over NZ Cup placegetter Titan Banner, who was enormous winning the Summer Cup at Alexandra Park last Friday.

Their stablemate Chase The Dream has come north to join them while Christen Me, NZ Cup placegetter Tiger Tara, last season's Auckland Cup runner-up Hughie Green and now Franco Nelson add real depth to the race.

Franco Nelson was the hard luck story of the Interdom Final last Friday night, being forced back to last before storming into fifth and trainer John Dunn says the stallion has weathered a frenetic last six weeks well.

"He has had a hard time but has jogged healthy and sound in Perth this week so it hasn't affected him," says Dunn.

"We are hoping he flies to Melbourne tomorrow and then back to Auckland on Saturday and we will give him some good hitouts down the beach before the Cup."

Many of the other Cup contenders head to Alexandra Park this Friday for a star-studded premier meeting, with Titan Banner's win last week seeing him shorten from $8 to $3 for the Cup.

But Smolda will not return to New Zealand this summer, heading to Melbourne to prepare for a trip to the South Australian Cup then a defence of his Hunter Cup title in February.

Lazarus is still on track for his return to racing at Cambridge on January 6 before crossing the Tasman for a four-race campaign.

While most of the leading trotters still racing will contest the Lyell Creek at Alexandra Park this Friday, two-time Dominion winner Master Lavros returns at Addington instead, where he will need a solid performance to guarantee his trip north for the National Trot on December 31.

Meanwhile, news of the impending whip ban in Australia has seen threats of strike action from some horsepeople, with key Victorian industry figures meeting last night.

The primary concerns being voiced are the safety of drivers if they are not allowed to carry any form of whip to deter a horse from doing something which would endanger itself or the driver.

But Harness Racing Australia is rejecting that, saying it will work with horsepeople to develop a new guiding tool which can be carried in races and trials and be used for safety reasons, just not to make a horse go faster.

While New Zealand bosses say they will monitor the situation in Australia, the ban there makes recent changes in whip policy here seem far less dramatic all of a sudden.

Pacing hero laid to rest

Former pacing hero Christopher Vance has died.

The New Zealand and Auckland Cup star as well as Miracle Mile winner passed away on Monday at Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge, where he had spent his retirement.

The $1.7 million earner was laid to rest next to champion galloper and best mate Rough Habit, the pair having been mates for nearly two decades. "He was a wonderful horse, a real gentleman," said former trainer Barry Purdon.

Christopher Vance raced in a golden year against Chokin, Golden Reign, Master Musician and Blossom Lady and also won the Messenger and the Northern Derby.