Racing: Hunter Cup spot hinges on top run

Last year Geoff Small walked into the Hunter Cup through the front door - tonight he hopes to sneak in.

Small trained Elsu, who produced the greatest Hunter Cup win of all time after sitting three wide for the last 1400m last season before dominating the Interdominion pacing series at Alexandra Park.

That champion retired in August and the open class ranks are still looking for their new king, with races like next Sunday's A$500,000 Hunter Cup a key pointer to who will eventually be remembered as this season's star.

Small's latest open classer, Winforu, isn't exactly in that class yet but the Patumahoe trainer is hopeful he can win his way into the Hunter in tonight's A$50,000 Moonee Valley Cup.

Winforu started his Australian season with some outstanding runs against the likes of Sokyola, Robin Hood and The Warp Drive and even when luck deserted him in races like the Victoria Cup he still impressed.

As one of the lesser lights of this season's open class elite he needs to win, or at worst run second tonight to earn a place in next Sunday's race.

And Small says he can do it.

"I think he has been one of the better open class pacers just outside the big two or three this season," said Small.

"There are a whole group of them who can win a race with the right run and a lot of the time this season he hasn't had the right run.

"But if he gets it this weekend then he can win this and get a Hunter spot."

Winforu is better known these days as a sprinter but Small has no concern about tonight's 2570m standing start.

"He is usually good from a stand and he won the Derby as a 3-year-old so I am not worried about that."

Winforu does face a huge task though, as tonight's race is virtually the shadow field for the Hunter Cup minus Howard Bromac, Be Good Johnny and Slipnslide.

Favouritism is likely to be contested between Sting Lika Bee, who was luckless in last week's Ballarat Cup, and Blacks A Fake.

The latter is the latest rave horse from Queensland but has been beaten in both his Victorian starts after missing away.

He couldn't afford to make the same mistake tonight as, like Winforu, he needs a prominent finish to be guaranteed a Hunter Cup spot.

Safari and last Saturday's Ballarat Cup winner Robin Hood are other chances, although the latter faces a massive task from a 20m backmark and with the big race eight days away he may be driven conservatively.

The other Kiwi in tonight's race is Bobs Blue Boy, who was a battling fourth in the Ballarat Cup but is better suited by tonight's standing start.

Tonight's other features, apart from the Victoria Derby and Interdominion heats, are the 4-year-old Bonanza with Baileys Dream, and Foreal in the mares race.