New Zealand Cup: A tidy getaway from San Carlo holds key to Bec Bartley’s quest for Group 1 success
Bec Bartley is chasing her own little piece of history in the Group 1 New Zealand Cup but a lot will depend on Aussie contender San Carlo and his ability to get out of the blocks quickly.
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Four years ago Bec Bartley let her mind wander.
For just a moment, buried in the middle of celebrations for fellow driver Kerryn Manning’s historic NZ Cup win with Arden Rooney, Bartley wondered if she would ever part of such a great race.
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It was Bartley’s first trip to the NZ Cup — the biggest race of any code in NZ — and she got to see her idol, the trailblazing Manning, become the first female to train and drive an NZ Cup winner.
Fittingly, Manning did so just a week after Michelle Payne did the same thing in the Melbourne Cup.
Bartley, 28, returns to the Addington track in Christchurch on Tuesday, but this time chasing her own glory. She co-trains and drives leading Aussie contender San Carlo in the $750,000 Group 1 NZ Cup.
“I already feel like a winner just being part of it, but I really think we can win it the way he’s going. It’s like he’s gone to another level this campaign,” Bartley said.
So much will depend on how quickly San Carlo steps away from barrier one behind the standing-start tapes.
Some think it’s a nightmare, but Bartley isn’t one of them.
“He’s a really relaxed horse. I think he’ll be fine,” she said.
“It’s hard to get standing start trials back home because we don’t have (standing start) races for the pacers any more, but I’m not too worried about it.”
San Carlo is TAB’s $8 fourth favourite behind three of the all-conquering All Stars’ stable runners, Miracle Mile winner Spankem ($2.10), defending champion Thefixer ($2.80) and Cruz Bromac ($7.50).
San Carlo is one of five Aussies chasing Group 1 glory at Addington on Tuesday.
Arguably the two best Aussies hopes are Tough Monarch ($2.30) and McLovin ($5.50) in the $100,000 Group 1 NZ Trotting free-for-all.
The most awesome day! @KerrynManning @grantashley76 @ghall27 @fencetalknz @AddingtonNZ https://t.co/beyWGto3go
— Adam Hamilton (@AdamTABSports) November 10, 2019
THE AUSSIES AT ADDINGTON
With Adam Hamilton
RACE 10: NEW ZEALAND CUP (3.12pm)
SAN CARLO
He’s a ripper. Don’t worry about his age (nine), he’s a late maturer and heads to Addington in career-best form. “It’s like he’s gone to another level this campaign,” co-trainer and driver Bec Bartley said. There’s no doubt he’s good enough to win a race like this, but he will need to do everything right at the start from barrier one. If he happened to step to the lead, he’d be the horse to beat. If not, luck becomes everything.
CRUZ BROMAC
Well, we can sort of claim him given he prepared for the race back in Victoria for trainer Amanda Grieve then rejoined the All Stars barn.
Terrific third in the Victoria Cup three starts back. Certainly did enough after a tardy start then sitting parked at Kaikoura, albeit against lesser opposition. Probably looks a tad below stablemates Spankem and Thefixer, but he’s got class and could surprise.
OUR UNCLE SAM
The “find” of last year’s Melbourne Inter Dominion series, but hasn’t quite gone on with it since. Tired after doing the work at Ashburton then lost all hope when he bungled the start at Kaikoura. Local hero Mark Jones jumps aboard and he can certainly improve, but a place hope looks best.
RACE 6: NZ TROTTING FFA (12.47pm)
TOUGH MONARCH
Gee he’ll be hard to beat. Racing in career-best form and smashed the clock with 1min54.4sec all-the-way win over 1720m at Melton in hot field three starts back. “I’ve never had him better,” trainer Rickie Alchin said. Quick beginner, drawn well, awfully hard to beat if he finds the front, which seems very likely.
McLOVIN
Former Kiwi who has been a revelation for Andy Gath in Victoria. Specifically set for the two big races this week. Amazing first-up win in Group 1 Bill Collins Mile when off the track most of the trip and just kept coming. Classy, very strong and has a turn of speed. Needs luck from back row, but he’s certainly good enough if the race is run to suit.