As if history wasn't an imposing enough rival for Terror To Love yesterday, he managed to sabotage his own bid to become the first ever four-time New Zealand Cup winner.
The magnificent stallion started a hot favourite in the $700,000 Addington classic but had to settle for fourth, fading lateafter leading in the middle stages.
Driver Ricky May believed he knows why. "He was hitting the disks on his sulky wheels with his back legs which meant he over-raced badly.
"It made it hard to be as tactical on him and while I don't want to take anything away from the horses who beat him we didn't see his best."
Terror To Love will have to contest Friday's NZ Free-For-All and probably win it to have any chance of getting a Miracle Mile invite.
Robert Dunn, trainer of runner-up Franco Nelson, believed his 5-year-old could have won the Cup had he not lost momentum at the top of the straight as Terror To Love struggled to get him to the passing lane at full speed.
Australian raider For A Reason was a brave third, sitting parked for the last lap.
