The thoughts of Nathan Williamson about a possible winning time in this year’s new -Zeeland Cup are interesting and will certainly generate debate.
The two Australians, Swayzee and jump to fame are the favorites and Williamson said in response to my question: “Much will depend on the day. If the job is in the order that it is in general, if they get a beautiful day and both start clean, I think jump could go to Fame under 3-50. He would be his first mile and half in any case in any case” “”
I also asked Mark Purdon his thoughts on the subject. After eight New Zealand cup winners, including Lazarus, having trained the current record holder (3-53.1) and having six winners at home in the Great Race, he certainly has the experience.
“I don’t know about 3-50. That quickly seems to be bloody. Look, I would not be surprised if they stop the clock around 3-55 marking. I think that if jump to fame forward, I don’t think Grant (Driver Grant Dixon Dixon would not go. Jump to Roem would put pressure,” Purdon said.
Williamson noted that the best Australian horses seem to have unlimited endurance.
“I have never seen him (jumped to fame) or Swayzee. They just don’t get tired. They probably miss the turn of people like Merlin and do not stop dreaming, but in general it comes when it is a big race, it never comes down to Stamina. They can beat the speed from the rest.”
Williamson and Purdon both agree that the two horses are out of the box.
“They are the best in Australazia. When we go to Australia, we generally go with the best we have here. They have turned the tables a bit and they now bring the best they have here,” Purdon said.
It took until 2000 before the magical marking of 4 minutes was broken when Yulestar ran the 3200 meters in 3-59.1. Since then, a sub of four minutes is the norm.
Purdon says that the New Zealand cups are not as open as before.
“If we look at a cup field now, we normally have four, maybe five serious opportunities and the balance is just the figures. I don’t think we have the depth. If you went back for twenty years, the depth was generally there,” he said.
There is no doubt that there are a few turns and turns before the second Tuesday in November, but many choose this could be the biggest cup in years. Time will learn it !!
Through Bruce StewartFor Harnesslink
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