Racing: Flashy pacer needs bad luck - for rival

John Dunn knows what he needs to win tomorrow's New Zealand Cup with Franco Nelson - bad luck.

Not for him, for Cup hero Terror To Love.

Dunn drives Franco Nelson, whom he trains in an unofficial partnership with his father, Robert, and the flashy pacer beat many of his rivals tomorrow in last Wednesday's rain-soaked Cup trial.

Dunn drove him more aggressively than the big guns last week as he tried to establish where Franco Nelson's head was at after a poor Flying Stakes performance.

"He was terrible at Ashburton, he warmed up feeling bad and raced like it," said Dunn.

"But we have to turn the page on that and he was a lot better last week."

That, coupled with a wide draw, gives Dunn some confidence Franco Nelson can step safely or even quickly again and be a factor in the early lead negotiations.

"He has been tricky from the stands this season but he can really get it right when he gets it right and if he steps well again we have to go forward."

But Dunn has been a player at group one level long enough now to know that even the best version of Franco Nelson may not be good enough tomorrow.

"He is up to most of them but beating Terror To Love might be another thing," he admits.

"I was jogging on his back in the Canterbury Classic but when I pulled out and he heard us he went again and was too strong.

"So he is the obvious horse I am worried about and maybe I can't beat him unless he has some bad luck."

Dunn has an early pressure drive when last season's champion filly Venus Serena takes on genuine open classers Fly Like An Eagle and Gold Ace in the free-for-all.

"She has had four trials so the race won't flatten her but I can't believe she is a warm favourite against those horses."

He says his problem is Venus Serena can't be taken hold of early so he has to go forward, which could be telling at the end of a hard 2600m mobile fresh up.

Dunn rates No Doctor Needed in the last race his best drive of the day.