Racing: Self-imposed handicap on pacer

Have Faith In Me is in the second line of favouritism for the Auckland Trotting Cup. Photo / Dean Purcell

Standing start manners continue to plague Have Faith In Me as he zeroes in on favouritism for the Auckland Trotting Cup.

And that has forced trainer Mark Purdon to place a self-imposed handicap on him for his immediate standing start future.

Last season's champion three-year-old downed Auckland Cup rival Tiger Tara in their 2600m trial at Rangiora yesterday but not before he once again blew the standing start.

The exceptional pacing talent galloped away in his only two standing starts races this year and can-canned again yesterday, settling last in the four-horse heat.

So while trainer-driver Mark Purdon was happy with his winning performance, he realises the great race at Alexandra Park on December 31 could come too soon for Have Faith In Me.

"We still have time to work on his manners but it was far from perfect today," Purdon told the Herald.

"I think he will get to the stage where he can catch it right but I am going to apply to have him placed on the unruly for the meanwhile.

"I think he is better off there than on the front line where he will have to start in between horses."

That means Have Faith In Me will have to start from the outside of the second line in the Cup, giving away starts very early in his open class career.

But that hasn't stopped him being backed into $3.80 from his $4 opening price, with stablemate Smolda drifting from his $3 opening quote to $3.40.

"There isn't a lot between them obviously because they are very good horses so it is hard to pick between them as our best chance."

Both the Purdon-Rasmussen Cup contenders will have their final Cup trial in the Franklin Cup on December 18. Joining them in the north will be an army of stablemates but only one two-year-old for the Young Guns series.

Some of the big names heading to Auckland will warm up at Methven on Sunday, with Mossdale Conner favourite to win the Green Mile.

He will be overshadowed for the highlight of the day by the trotters, with Stent and Monbet to clash in the Trotting Mile in only the second showdown between the pair rated New Zealand's two fastest trotters.

Meanwhile, Lennytheshark and Philadelphia Man have tightened their grip on favouritism for next week's A$1.3 million Inter Dominion final with second round heat wins at Bunbury in West Australia on Tuesday night.

Both remained unbeaten in the series, Lennytheshark after sitting parked over the mile while Philadelphia Man came from well back, much as he had done winning at Gloucester Park last Friday.

Tuesday's other heat was won by former Auckland pacer My Hard Copy.

The last round of heats is at Gloucester Park in Perth tomorrow and will controversially be run under preferential barrier draw conditions, based on points in the series so far, meaning the two favourites will both start from barrier nine.

The all-important draw for the final is around 6pm NZ time on Sunday.