It is often said a horse needs a perfect preparation to win a New Zealand Trotting Cup.
Tiger Tara had everything run to plan, right up until last Wednesday afternoon.
The setback?
An extremely unfortunate draw for today's $750,000 great race at Addington.
The Geoff Dunn-trained entire will start the 3200m test from the inside of the second row, relying on plenty of horses around him to be on their best behaviour.
Dunn, who has kept Tiger Tara ticking along at his West Melton base since the Ashburton Flying Stakes two weeks ago, was looking forward to his 5yr-old making good use of his excellent standing start manners but that plan went out the window when the draw came out.
''It never came into my thoughts that we would draw something like that,'' Dunn said.
''It was a bit of a shock, but you've got to take it as it as and hope he gets the right run through.''
The awkward extrication will be in the hands of driver Gerard O'Reilly, and Dunn had not spoken to O'Reilly to discuss a plan.
''Gerard has driven him fabulously all his career and knows him so well, so it will be on Gerard's shoulders,'' he said.
''I'll just let him go for what he wants to do.''
Horror draws aside, Dunn is thrilled with Tiger Tara's lead-up form, which includes two trials, a second to Christen Me in the New Brighton Cup, a win in the frenetic Canterbury Classic and a fourth after a torrid Ashburton Flying Stakes run.
''We were really happy with him - everything's been perfect so far,'' he said.
''It wasn't the plan at all at Ashburton to have such a hard run but it's just the way it panned out and I think it's cleaned him right up and given him the hard one he needed. He fought like a lion; it was a fantastic run.''
The hard run at Ashburton convinced Dunn he could bypass the Cup trial last Wednesday, and now all he needs is some of that elusive quality called luck shortly after 5.15pm today.
''He can run on; he's pretty quick. He's always been able to stay which is the main thing we looked at.
''But in the scheme of things if we are back and have to come wide, it might be the best option for him.''
Prior to Tiger Tara's sixth in last year's New Zealand Cup, Dunn had never had a Cup runner other than lining up Master Musician in Blossom Lady's 1992 win when his brother, Robert, was suspended.
''I've been in horses for years and have been battling away and now we've had two great horses [Tiger Tara and Venus Serena]. It's completely different and fantastic.
''I always watched the Cup and hoped that I would have one in there - so I love it.''
Tiger Tara has been steady at $11 since the final field market came out and Dunn believes New Zealand's biggest pacing race could go one of half a dozen ways - to his horse, Smolda, Ohoka Punter, Arden Rooney, Messini or Sky Major.
''It is open - there are about six of them in there that are going pretty good.''
