POPULAR Alm, Blacks A Fake and King Of Swing are not only household names in harness racing, but are also former winners of the sport’s most prestigious race – the A.G. Hunter Cup.
Two locally-owned horses will aim to join them when the 73rd edition of the famous race is run at Melton on Saturday night.
Both Major Meister and Torrid Saint made the final field of 12 in what was being dubbed one of the finest Hunter Cup fields assembled in many years.
It’s been a big 12 months for the connections of both horses, with incredible results against internationally-acclaimed trotting superstars following their every move.
Major Meister – part owned by Tooleybuc’s Enzo Mazzarella – has already claimed both the Cranbourne and Bendigo Pacing Cups in a remarkable two-month burst of form since transferring to the stables of Jason Grimson and will go in as one of the in-form chances to take home the illustrious prize, despite being drawn to start on the second row.
It’s a similar story for the Noel Watson owned and bred Torrid Saint, who had his own breakout performance when finishing a surprise second in the Inter Dominion Pacing Final in December last year.
“I reckon he (Torrid Saint) was going better two months ago – but having said that, once you hit the top grade of racing, it just takes one little thing to go right or wrong and your either in the race, or out of the race,” Watson said.
“All the horses in the field are rated around 120 and there’s no higher rating than that, so that goes to show the quality of the field.
“We’re delighted to have barrier two – we would have been stoked to draw barrier one or eight and sit right on the rail, but where we’re drawn, we can just sit and wait and hopefully when the race opens up, if he can go, he’ll go.
“He’ll get his chance, but we’ll need a bit of luck too, which you always do in races like this to be fair.”
While Torrid Saint will start as rank outsider, it’s a position he has grown accustomed to.
For Watson, that matters little – the president of the Swan Hill Trotting Club was just happy to be enjoying the ride that his beloved gelding is giving him.
“I was saying the other night when he was racing in the Ballarat Cup, oh it’s a long way to go and watch a race – but you know what, next year we probably won’t be doing it, so let’s go,” Watson said.
“I’ve seen enough twists and turns in this sport that you never know what’s around the corner – who knows, in 12 months’ time we might be only going as far as Mildura or Swan Hill with the next one that’s coming through.
“You have to enjoy the ride in this game because you never know how long it’s going to last and I’m sure that’s the same with Enzo and the guys with Major Meister too – you just never know when the fun will end in this game, but right now, it’s fantastic.
“But to have two locally owned horses battling away in one of the biggest races on the calendar is, to be honest, absolutely incredible – especially in such a great field too.”
