It will not be just Titan Banner who will line up in tomorrow’s Methven Cup with blinkers on.
When the Westwood Beach pacer faces the tapes, his trainer, Graeme Anderson, will not be looking around worrying about what other runners are doing; he will be solely focused on his own horse.
Since last week New Zealand Cup hype-machine has been in overdrive, fuelled mainly by the sparkling return of last year’s winner, Lazarus, and the scare over Heaven Rocks with his injury-hampered performance in the same race.
Some ask whether this year’s New Zealand Cup is a one-horse race; others complain that it is a one-stable affair. Whatever the debate, Anderson simply does not care.
"I am just concentrating on my own horse. All of that stuff is for the TAB and the punters to work out," he said.
What Anderson can control is his own horse’s training programme leading into the cup, and so far he could not be happier. Titan Banner had a week off after his Hannon Memorial win last month before returning to Westwood Beach in the best possible order.
"He has been bucking and carrying on and his hopple work has been very good," Anderson said.
Those who have a close eye on the New Zealand Cup market will note that at nine-to-one, Titan Banner is one point shorter than his main rival tomorrow, Dream About Me, who holds fourth-favouritism at $10.
However, on the back of her blazing finish for third behind Lazarus in the Canterbury Classic when Titan Banner was off the scene, there is every chance favouritism for tomorrow’s race will reverse.
Though Dream About Me has started more recently and Titan Banner has had a week-long let-up, it does not mean his fitness is behind where it needs to be, Anderson said.
One thing that can also be assured is that the Titan Banner will enjoy Methven’s grass circuit.
The horse has a win
plus the third placing in last year’s Methven Cup next to his name, from three starts on grass.
The Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained Dream About Me will be stepping on to the surface for the first time, though her previous staying prowess and the astute judgement of her trainers would suggest it will not be an issue.
That prowess helped Purdon into the record books again on Thursday night. When Purdon drove Bettor Trix to victory at Addington it was his 2000th win in New Zealand as a trainer. He became the third horseman to complete the feat alongside his brother, Barry, and father, Roy.
Purdon races Bettor Trix, who he bred, with Vi Hancock, wife of former champion Aussie trainer Brian Hancock.
