Racing: Cup draw delivers Serena a high five

Alta Serena's Auckland Cup barrier draw is perfect for driver Brent Mangos but a nightmare for bookies.

The in-form mare will start from barrier five in the $250,000 feature, a position which saw her shorten into $2.50 favouritism yesterday.

And while Mangos was smiling after the draw, the bookies are now trying to persuade punters away from the mare.

"We are trying to turn the tap off on her," said head bookmaker Paul Lally.

"The last thing we wanted to see was her get a good draw because she is already a terrible result for us.

"So we have moved her into $2.50 to try and get punters to stop backing her."

The bookies took one bet last week of $10,000 on Alta Serena at $4 and since then one of her more favoured rivals, Just An Excuse, has pulled out of the race.

With several of the biggest names in pacing - Mainland Banner, Just An Excuse, Mi Muchacho and Myron - missing from the race Alta Serena's connections only wanted a handy front line draw to complete their dream lead-up.

"We didn't want the second line because that is as bad as being off a 10m handicap," said co-trainer John Green yesterday.

And barrier one could have been just as bad.

That was where Alta Serena drew in last month's New Zealand Cup and after missing the start by a stride she ended up four deep as the field crawled through the first mile in 2:8.

"That was what cost us our winning chance there. I am not saying she would have beaten Mainland Banner but if she had settled closer she would have finished closer.

"One thing is for sure, if we are in front on Saturday they won't be going through the first mile in 2:8 again," vowed Mangos.

While her front line draw is exactly what Alta Serena needed, her key rivals have also fared well, with Howard Bromac to start alongside her at barrier four and Bobs Blue Boy at two.

"They look two of the hardest to beat but I'm happy to have Howard Bromac drawn inside us because at least he is a safe beginner so there shouldn't be any traffic problems at the start," said Mangos.

Howard Bromac was steady at $5 last night while Bobs Blue Boy drifted to $8 even after drawing ideally at barrier two.

He was one of the few open class horses to emerge from last week's Summer Cup with any credit, running on for third after he paraded looking in need of the run.

If he can step away quickly he looks one of the few horses in the race capable of applying any pressure.

"We don't mind drifting him out to $8 because we are not holding a lot of money on him and he is proven at this level," said Lally, basically admitting the rugged gelding was the best value in the market.

Harnetts Creek was another to fare well in the draw, with trainer John Parsons pleased with barrier eight.

"That suits us just fine because he won't have to come into line too soon and at least we will be out of trouble early," said Parsons.

The big losers in yesterday's draw were Presido and Imagine That, and Summer Cup winner Lord Vader will start from the unruly, which is a huge disadvantage in a 13-horse field.

Both Presido and Imagine That have little open class experience and would have been rated upset winning hopes with front line draws but will have to start from the second line, pushing them out to at least $15 chances.

* After the Auckland Trotting Club moved Saturday's meeting to a daytime slot, with the cup to be run at 5.30pm, they were already expecting a betting bonanza.

But interest will be even higher as the meeting will host a Pick6 guaranteed to $250,000.

While the Saturday afternoon time slot is usually the domain of thoroughbred racing the Pick6 should appeal to those who rarely invest on harness racing, with the cup and the $150,000 Sales Series legs which have big-name horses.

The day's other main race sees New Zealand's two top trotters Allegro Agitato and Pompallier clash again in the $50,000 National Trot.

Fields for the two feature races on Saturday are.-

74.15: Sales series final
$150,000, 2200m.- Analyst (1), Colt Fortyfive (2), Alpine Dream (3), Enrique (4), Christian Spirit (5), The Reckoning (6), Jays Debut (7), Maheer Dream (8), Auditor (9), Umoja (10), Classic Line (11), Marvin Royce (12), Alta Sirocco (13), Artisso (14), Awesome Armbro (Ur) fr. Ems: Colt Fortyfive, Artisso.

95.30: Trillian trust Auckland cup
$250,000, special handicap pace, 3200m.- Tribute (1), Bobs Blue Boy (2), Napoleon (3), Howard Bromac (4), Alta Serena (5), White Arrow (6), Country Ways (7), Harnetts Creek (8), Badlands Bute (9), Presido (10), Innocent Bystander (11), Imagine That (12), Lord Vader (Ur) fr.