Racing: Terror To Love in heart-stopper

Terror To Love (11) dashes past Adore Me to win the $250,000 Auckland Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Paul Court only had one complaint after watching Terror To Love finally win an Auckland Trotting Cup last night.

"Ricky [May] doesn't make it easy on the old heart, does he?" smiled co-trainer Court after the wonderful pacer came from last to win Alexandra Park's greatest race.

Plenty of punters who backed Terror To Love into $2.50 favouritism would echo Court's comments after the $2 million earner looked to be in a world of trouble halfway through the race.

He and driver May were trapped four back in the three wide line as arch rival Adore Me ambled up to sit parked at the bell and then put paid to leader Mah Sish at the 600m mark.

That saw the glamour mare shoot three lengths clear at the top of the straight but May timed his run to perfection for Terror To Love to grab Adore Me at the 50m mark and win going away, with Saveapatrol a luckless third.

The win came just five days after Terror To Love failed again in the Inter Dominion in Sydney, proving once again he is one horse in New Zealand and a far inferior equine when he crosses the Tasman.

Court's father and training partner Graham said while the short turnaround was taxing on Terror To Love, the final 24 hours before the Cup were crucial.

"He was a bit lighter after flying back from Sydney but he really picked up today," said Graham.

"And it was a great drive from Ricky."

Terror To Love had run second in the last two Auckland Cups but as a three-time winner of the New Zealand Cup his place among the true greats of New Zealand harness racing was confirmed long ago.

But last night's win came with some added spice for his future stud career as he equalled the national record for the 2700m mobile in recording his 27th career win.

He will now return to his beloved Addington and take on Adore Me again in the Easter Cup.

Earlier in the night Follow The Stars remained unbeaten with a stunning performance in the $100,000 Breckon Farms Cardigan Bay Stakes.

The favourite was trapped four wide for much of the first lap before trainer-driver Mark Purdon ran out of patience with that and launched him halfway down the back straight.

He exploded clear in one of the most impressive juvenile wins seen at Alexandra Park in recent years.

His win continued a wonderful record in the race for Purdon, who has won it 10 times.

Southland-owned filly Democrat Party also overcame a wide draw to win the fillies equivalent, the $80,000 Gotta Go Cullen Final.

She was rated too good to be trained by her owners John and Katrina Price so they sent her north to training legend Barry Purdon and the decision has paid instant dividends, with two wins from three starts.

She had to be good last night as she came around the two other favourites, Linda Lovegrace and Cyclone Kate and beat them fair and square in a 1:56.2 mile rate for the 1700m.

We thought she was a bit special early on, which is why we sent her to Barry," said owner John Price.

"She is his for as long as he wants now."