By Jonny Turner
Mark Hurrell has four missions to complete before linking up with one of the south’s biggest chances on New Zealand Cup Day.
Hurrell has four drives at Wyndham on Sunday including warm favourite First Light.
The mare was only just denied in her first start for the spring when overhauled late by the very impressive Winton winner Muchacho.
With several factors looking in her favour this week, First Light looks a big winning chance for Hurrell and trainer Greg Hunter.
“She just blew out late in her last start, she missed a race a couple of weeks ago and she just came to the end of her run,” Hurrell said.
“The horse that beat her is not a bad horse and once we got past us he went again.”
“It was still a good run and from a much better draw this week she should get her chance.”
“She should be able to get out pretty good and stay handy.”
Hurrell also links up with By Chance who has been trialling well ahead of his return at Wyndham on Sunday.
The pacer must overcome starting from the unruly over a mile, but his driver is hopeful he can.
“The unruly is the best place for him because he is still green, there is only one horse on the second row so it shouldn’t end up too bad,” Hurrell said.
“His trials have been pretty good so hopefully he should go a nice race.”
Robyns Art looks another each way threat for Hurrell, with the pacer getting a key upgrade in draw in barrier 4.
“It is the first good draw he’s had in a long time, he usually draws 8 or 10 or somewhere like that.”
“Hopefully he can stay handy from there, because he can keep going at the same speed.”
Beyond Sunday, Hurrell will reunite with Wag Star in the Group Three Junior Free-For-All on New Zealand Cup Day.
The Craig Ferguson trained pacer was luckless in the Kaikoura Cup when checked early during a haphazard start before being forced to race three-wide without cover for the final lap of the feature.
The great news for Wag Star’s southern fans is that he has progressed well since that tough run.
“Craig has been really happy with him, he has been bucking and running around the paddock,” Hurrell said.
“Hopefully from the draw (5) he will get a bit more luck this time.”
“It is not going to be easy, there are some nice horses in the race.”
“Catch A Wave has won over $2million whereas our horse has won about $90k.”
“But I know what my horse has got under the hood, he is a pretty good horse.”
Hurrell also links up with another southerner in South Seas Rock on New Zealand Cup Day.
