TIGER Tara’s busy build-up to the New Zealand Cup could see him return to Victoria for next Saturday night’s $50,000 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup.
It would mean racing for a fourth consecutive weekend, but trainer Kevin Pizzuto isn’t the least bit fussed about that.
Pizzuto declared Cranbourne “very likely” after Tiger Tara backed-up just seven days after his sparkling Victoria Cup win to score again in the Group 3 Kevin Newman Cup (2300m) at Menangle last night.
Much like the Victoria Cup, driver Toddy McCarthy turned the race into a sprint home once he led, which last night took 300m to do so from the outside draw.
Tiger Tara cruised through a 60.9sec middle half then ran back-to-back 26.9sec splits for a 53.8sec last half to beat the emerging Joes Star Of Mia by 2.7m in a a 1min55.4sec mile rate.
It showed again how sharp Tiger Tara seems to be this campaign.
“I’ve changed his training and you’re seeing the results with his speed now,” Pizzuto said.
Tiger Tara is now $4.50 favourite for the Melbourne Inter Dominion on the Aussie TAB, showing the importance of his presence at the NZ Cup.
He is $6 equal second favourite with Dream About Me – behind Ultimate Machete at $5 – for the NZ Cup.
“I think we’ll go down to Cranbourne next week with him because it seems I can a flight out of Melbourne that’s direct into Christchurch,” Pizzuto said. “If that’s confirmed, then he’ll run at Cranbourne then head to NZ from Melbourne.
“I’d much rather go direct to Christchurch than have to fly to Auckland first.
“If he runs at Cranbourne, he probably won’t need another run before the (NZ Cup).
“I’ll know all my plans for sure in the next couple of days.”
Tiger Tara’s stablemate Majordan, who was a luckless seventh in the Victoria Cup, disappointed slightly when he led, took a trail on Tiger Tara and tired late for fifth in last night’s race.
But Majordan is a sprinter and the 2300m didn’t really suit him, especially on the quick back-up from last week.
Pizzuto still plans to take him to NZ with Tiger Tara to target the NZ FFA.
Adam Hamilton