What does the 3200 metre form tell us about the cup? - we’ve done the homework for you

Self Assured might have the best 3200 metre record of Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup runners but he can’t claim the fastest time.

The cup favourite is unbeaten in three starts at the extreme distance, including a runaway win at Addington 12 months ago, but it’s the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Classie Brigade who is the fastest.

Five years ago, Classie Brigade paced 3:53.5 when he beat Captain Dolmio in a strong Invercargill Cup after starting from 30 metres behind.

That’s only four tenths of a second slower than the New Zealand Cup record set by Lazarus in the first of his two wins in 2016.

Lincoln Farms’ Copy That claims the fourth fastest 3200 metre time, set in last year’s Auckland Cup when he showed great courage to sit parked for the last two laps. To still be finishing on, beaten only a neck and half a length when starved for room between Amazing Dream and Spankem, put to bed any queries about his ability to see out the extreme test.

If you’re looking for a roughie, whose 3200 metre stats are better than they seem, check out Henry Hubert, whose fixed odds price is $7 for a place and $4.80 to run top four.

He might not have run a place in his four attempts at 3200 metres but he claims the third fastest time in the field, set when fourth in last year’s cup. After being caught back on the markers, he mounted a run four wide on the turn and powered home to be best of the rest behind the All Stars’ Self Assured, Spankem and Ashley Locaz.

A runner-by-runner rundown on the 3200 metre form follows:

Steel The Show
1 start, 1 placing
Best time: 4:01.5

Robert and Jenna Dunn’s four-year-old was very brave in his only crack at 3200 metres in the 2020 Ashburton Cup. After leading and trailing, he waged a war with Tango Tara, who has since gone on to bigger things in Australia, going under by only half a neck. His time was only moderate, however, and the race turned into a sprint home in 56.5 and 26.6.

Vintage Cheddar
2 starts, 1 placing
Best time: 4:02

The Southlander could manage only fifth of seven in Self Assured’s Easter Cup in April, finishing on from the back to be beaten more than four lengths. He ran third to Sagwitch in the 2019 Wyndham Cup, collared inside the last 200 metres, in his only other attempt.

Matt Damon
2 starts, 0 placings
Best time: 3:57.2

Seventh in Heisenberg’s 2019 Ashburton Cup, Matt Damon improved in his second attempt at 3200 metres when a gutsy fourth to Amazing Dream, Spankem and Copy That in the 2020 Auckland Cup, clocking 3:57.2. After being well back on the markers, he caught the eye up the straight finishing on bravely to be beaten only 3.2 lengths.

Diamond Racing’s Classie Brigade, outer, and Henry Hubert both have appealing 3200 metre credentials. PHOTO: Addington Raceway.Classie Brigade
7 starts, 2 wins, 1 placing
Best time: 3:53.5

Classie Brigade claims the fastest 3200 metre time in the race, set when he beat Captain Dolmio in the 2017 Invercargill Cup from 30 metres. His runs in the last two New Zealand Cups both had merit. In 2019 he ran a close and unlucky third to Cruz Bromac and Spankem when badly held up late in the straight. Last year, from the 15 draw, he had to mount a run from the rear to get handy at the bell which robbed him of a finish, running sixth and 10.7 lengths behind Self Assured. He also claims fourths in an Easter Cup and Winter Cup.

Robyn’s Playboy
1 start, 0 placings
Best time: 3:59.1

The southern star ran 10th in the cup last year, beaten 20 lengths, after being fourth last 1000 metres out and trying to mount a run three wide.

Cranbourne
First try

While he has never started over 3200 metres, the progressive Sir Lincoln four-year-old showed his staying qualities when he photo-finished Steel The Show and Vintage Cheddar in last month’s Methven Cup over 2850 metres on the grass.

Kango
First try

The only clue to Kango also comes from the Methven Cup. While only fourth, beaten four lengths, he lost a huge stretch when he galloped at the start, then made a big run round the field in the last lap to sit parked.

Copy That
2 starts, 1 placing
Best time: 3:56.7

Copy That’s 2020 cup run has been well documented, when he was the victim of an atrocious start which allowed horses drawn wide to get a flyer while those near the markers were caught flat-footed. He ended up last and had to make a big run three wide round the field, working very hard solo on the turn out of the straight on the last lap to find the death. He battled into eighth, 11 lengths from the winner. His Auckland Cup run showed the trip held no fears when, despite being parked for the last two laps, he finished a close third, sandwiched for room between the two All Stars runners Amazing Dream and Spankem close to home.

Henry Hubert
4 starts, 0 placings
Best time: 3:56.6

Don’t let the apparently bleak 3200 metre stats fool you. He has come with big finishes in the last two cups. Last year, after being caught back on the markers, he mounted a run four wide on the turn and powered home for fourth, beaten 7 lengths. In 2019 he was only 1.8 lengths from the winner, coming from second last at the 800, taking short cuts up the markers, and getting right up in behind the leaders before peaking on his run very late for sixth. In his other two starts he ran fourth and sixth in the Easter Cup.

Bad To The Bone
1 start, 0 placings
Best time: 3:58.1

Bad To The Bone ruined his only attempt at 3200 metres when he galloped away in the 2020 Auckland Cup and was still at the rear turning for home. He finished OK to be eight lengths from Amazing Dream. None of his nine wins have been further than 2300 metres and they have all been from a mobile start.

Terry
First try

Terry has never had a crack at 3200 metres. He has won twice at 2600 metres and, when clear last start, was spotted making good ground late for fifth in the Self Assured’s Kaikoura Cup (2600m).

Self Assured
Self Assured, outer, is unbeaten in three starts at 3200 metres while South Coast Arden, inner, has yet to prove himself at the trip. PHOTO: Addington Raceway.3 starts, 3 wins
Best time: 3:55.2

The favourite is unbeaten in three starts at the extreme distance. His fastest time was when he clocked 3:55.2 in winning the cup last year when he had all favours, getting away with a flying start from wide out on the second line, disputing the lead early then trailing before running away by three and a half lengths. He ran 3:59.4 when leading all the way to beat Thefixer in the 2019 Auckland Cup and 4:00.3 when pipping stablemate Spankem a neck in April’s Easter Cup after walking them in front mid-race.

South Coast Arden
1 start, 0 placings
Best time: 3:59.4

In his only start at 3200 metres, Brent Mangos’ four-year-old beat two home in last year’s Auckland Cup, nearly 15 lengths behind Amazing Dream. He was rearing and on the jig at the start, ended up at the rear, was still second last on the home turn, and only plugged away up the straight.

Laver
First try

Laver has never lined up over 3200 metres but showed his courage over 3000 metres in January’s Nelson Cup when pipped a head and two half heads into fourth. He blew the start, galloped out the back and was giving the leaders a massive start once underway. After looping the field at the 1200 to sit parked, he never flinched in the run to the line. He can race tough and appeals as a likely exotic maker.

Dance Time
First try

Stonewall Stud’s six-year-old has won 17 races but none of them further than 2200 metres. In six attempts at longer distances than sprints he has run sixth, third, seventh, 13th, 12th and 11th.

NEXT IN PART THREE: The barrier draw.