Big6 Hunter Cup, Tabcorp Park, Saturday
There is a massive purse of $425, 000 for offer this Saturday at Tabcorp in the Big6 Hunter Cup, an annual highlight of the harness racing season. This Group 1 contest is one of the best of its kind (standing start) and has attracted a star-studded line-up.
On the first line, those of interest are firstly Our Chain Of Command, and Karlew Mick, both of whom have been in blinding form of late and are attracting plenty of interest in the harness racing betting odds. The former is trained by D F Braun, who knows how to get winners in this sphere. The horse would have been made spot-on for Saturday’s outing after winning a lesser contest from a standing start last time out. Regular pilot Chris Alford is taking the drive and it isn’t hard to see this lightly raced 6yo involved at the finish here.
Karlew Mick is the other one of interest for us. This veteran is now 11 years old and a winner of over $1, 000,000 in prize money. He amazingly is still managing to hold his form well and although his win from last time out at Bathurst would leave something to be desired for a win in this better company, it was still a good run. Not just that, the horse has plenty of ability at winning from a stand start and should show his experience to good light here. He represents good EW value.
Villagem races off the second line here but is a class performer for trainer/driver Lisa Miles. This one was third in the Miracle Mile a few outings back and although his only other stand start experience ended in disaster, it is likely that he has been well schooled for this crack at another top pot.
Another with a lack of experience at a stand start is Stunin Cullen, a horse who comes here in the form of his life following his success in the Ballarat Cup last time out. From the second line, he may be able to see what is going on ahead of him and take a lead from that at the start, and must be feared.
The race is made that extra bit special by the appearance of this season’s undisputed superstar, I’mthemightyquinn. Nathan Jack will this time be taking the drive instead of his regular pilot and he must give 10 metres to all of those on the second line due to his achievements. It is debatable that he is a better horse from a mobile start but he has won off a stand start before and because of that should still play a part here.
One of the races of the season and if this was from a mobile start, I’mthemightyquinn would be a solid selection on the back of his stardom this season. He still is the selection but with conditions seemingly against him, he might just find one too good here. Our Chain Of Command rates as the main danger as he has the required form in the book, but I’mthemightyquinn, providing he is not over-backed, represents an EW bet to nothing. Great race!