By Jonny Turner
Running the race of his career in the New Zealand Cup has Steel The Show on song for a big showing in the Geraldine Cup.
The Robert and Jenna Dunn trained pacer ran on well in the Group One feature, clinching a respectable fourth placing which now sits near the top of his CV.
Already proven on grass and runner-up by a narrow margin in his last start on the Orari track in the Methven Cup, all signs point to another strong showing from the pacer on Saturday.
“He went super in the New Zealand Cup,” Robert Dunn said.
“He is a great follower of speed and he showed that, he got home really well and we were rapt with him.”
“He likes the grass and he has trained on well so we are expecting him to go a good race at Geraldine.”
An early contender for grass track race of the season, the Geraldine Cup has attracted a field full of New Zealand Cup Carnival form lines.
Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen start three of their Cup Week stars in the race in Pace N Pride, Shan Noble and Samhara.
Pace N Pride and Samhara share the 10m mark in the 2850m feature with Steel The Show while Shan Noble is 20m behind them alongside fellow Dunn runner Matt Damon.
Samhara beat home Pace N Pride in their last starts on Show Day, while Shan Noble was second behind another of his stablemates in It’s All About Faith.
Laver and No Time Like Now also add New Zealand Cup Week form lines to Saturday’s race.
No Time Like Now (front) was a hugely impressive winner on Cup Day before going on to run a creditable second behind Above N Beyond in last weekend’s Timaru Cup.
Laver (10m) ran a strong sixth in the New Zealand Cup and gets back to a staying trip on Saturday after disappointing in the New Zealand Free-For-All.
The Dunn stable line up a strong eight-horse team at Orari on Saturday including grass specialist, Got You Covered.
After strong showings at the New Zealand Cup Carnival the pacer looks well placed to regain winning form in race 7.
“He has been going very good races but just lacking a bit of speed because he has been doing a lot of work.”
“He likes the grass and he should go a very good race.”
Got You Covered and All Stars runner Riveered clearly look the two horses to beat in their 2500m assignment.
Dunn trained trotters Majestical (race 4) and Debois (race 6) just need to trot to be competitive in their races if they bring their best manners.
The Dunn stable also lines up Bow River in race 3 and Passion And Power in race 5.
