Racing: Bobs Blue Boy sneaks into Hunter Cup field

New Zealand pacer Bobs Blue Boy experienced the highs and lows of racing without even leaving his paddock yesterday.

The Canterbury stayer was lucky to sneak into the field for the A$500,000 Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on Sunday after a long debate by Harness Racing Victoria officials yesterday.

Bobs Blue Boy looked likely to miss a start after a poor effort in the Moonee Valley Cup last Saturday but made the cut over locals Flashing Red, Safari and Blacks A Fake, who just 10 days ago was favourite for the race.

Fresh from the relief of making the field Bobs Blue Boy then had the misfortune to draw the outside of the front line, a barrier which saw him drifted to $40 by some bookmakers.

With several good beginners and equally tough stayers drawn inside him, Bobs Blue Boy would need a miracle to reach his favoured pacemaking role and faces a huge task coming wide on the tight Moonee Valley bends.

New Zealand could still have a favourite for the great race though after Howard Bromac drew the widest of the three horses off the 10m mark.

That pleased co-owner Michelle Larsen as her and husband Kirk - who trains and drives Howard Bromac - believes they should be able to dodge any early traffic from there.

"Being off the 10m mark he is going to have to work at some stage but at least we should be able to step without too much traffic in front of him."

New Zealand's other rep, Winforu, will start from the outside of the unruly mark, again not bad if you have to be starting behind other horses.

New Zealand's key chance in the A$200,000 Interdominion Trotting Final, which will also be held on Sunday, could face a tricky first 100m.

Delft was favourite with most Australian bookmakers before yesterday's draw but may drift a shade after drawing barrier one on the 10m mark, allowing for the scratching of emergency Play On.

Delft stepped brilliantly from a similar draw to win his heat last week but being down on the inside may not be ideal in such a large field.

Trainer Michelle Wallis is not concerned though, saying Delft is trotting that well he may be confident enough to handle any early traffic.

Favouritism for the final may now swap to A Touch Of Flair, who has drawn the outside of the 10m mark, which once again could be a good place in the big field.

Trainer Kevin Fairburn was beaming after his reps, Whatsundermykilt and Glenbogle, drew barrier one and two respectively. "I think they can deadheat it from there."

Cambridge's Romper Stomper starts from six, while Prince Sundon and Genius face unruly marks.

* The fields for the two group one races at Moonee Valley on Sunday afternoon are:

Hunter Cup, A$500,000, 3050m.
About To Rock (1), Money Magnet (2), Maheer Lord (3), Dinki Di (4), Tromos (5), No Blue Manna (6), Bobs Blue Boy (7), Lookslikelightning (8), Sting Lika Bee (ur1), Blacks A Fake (ur2), Winforu (ur3), fr; Slipnslide (1), Robin Hood (2), Howard Bromac (3), 10m; Be Good Johnny (1), 20m. Emergency: Blacks A Fake.

Interdominion Trotting Final, A$200,000, 3050m.
Whatsundermykilt (1), Glenbogle (2), All Action Son (3), Illawaong Ian (4), Action After Dark (5), Romper Stomper (6), Calder Sensation (7), Kiwi Demand (8), Prince Sundon (ur1), Genius (ur2), fr; Play On (1), Delft (2), Pompallier (3), Sammy Do Good (4), A Touch Of Flair (5), 10m. Emergency: Play On.