News Article

Market Change A Blessing

04 February 2009

Bendigo Cup winner Changeover is now second favourite for the BIG6 Hunter Cup

Bendigo Cup winner Changeover is now second favourite for the BIG6 Hunter Cup

Surrendering favouritism for Saturday night's $400,000 BIG6 Hunter Cup in light of yesterday's barrier draw could be a blessing for Kiwi superstar Changeover.

Since Victoria's toughest event reverted to a standing start affair in 1994, only once has the favourite saluted. That was in 1996 when $4.50 shot Vics Vance got the money and even then he was equal favourite with Burlington Bertie.
In fact, only one horse has been able to run a place as favourite in the past 10 runnings of Australia's richest handicap event.
Victorian champion Shakamaker ran third to Another Party as the $4.80 popular elect in 2001, while he went one better when a narrow runner-up to stablemate Safe And Sound as a $3.70 favourite 12 months later.
New Zealand trainer Geoff Small wasn't breathing any easier just because frontmarker I Am Sam had replaced his 10-metre marker at the head of TAB Sportsbet's fixed odds market, but it didn't dampen his enthusiasm.
"He (Changeover) is obviously racing well and he's going to be pretty hard to roll," Small said. "We're looking forward to the challenge and can't wait for Saturday night."
Changeover, who finished fourth off 30m in the Shepparton Cup at his final Hunter Cup lead-up, blew from $3.50 to $4.50 when I Am Sam came in to $3 after drawing barrier four in the 3065-metre marathon.
But if anyone knows what's required to win a Hunter Cup off a backmark, it's Small. He prepared Elsu to win off 20 metres four years ago in what many good judges consider the most dominant Hunter Cup win of the modern era.
Plus, starting off 10m might not be as big an obstacle as it appears. Eight of the past 15 Hunter Cup winners have given most of their rivals a head start including the past two victors, Sting Lika Bee (10m) and Blacks A Fake (30m).
Small thinks Changeover's barrier 15 - the widest starting position on the four-horse 10m line - will aid the New Zealand Cup winner's chances of win number 24 and fifth place on the Australasian money-earner's list.
"It will give him a bit of space out wide and there shouldn't be any hiccups from there," he said. "The way they do the stands over there is a bit different to home and being out wide is probably going to be of benefit."
Already a winner of $1,872,990, Changeover's earnings will swell to $2,142,990 if successful on Saturday night.