Big Names Chase SA Cup Win

Tango Tara. Photo by Stuart McCormick.

FOUR of Australian harness racing's biggest names will lock horns in Saturday night's revamped $60,000 South Australian Pacing Cup.

Top Victorian trainers Emma Stewart and Andy Gath, Hall of Fame driver Anthony Butt and Victoria's leading driver James Herbertson will be part of the Group 3 feature.

Gath welcomed Harness Racing SA's decision to put the SA Cup, most famously won four times by former champion Victorian pacer Smoken Up, back on the "national radar" by opening it to horses trained outside of SA.

"It's a great move, and I wanted to be part of it as soon as I heard about it," he said. "I'm just one of many who have such great memories of SA Cup night in its prime … this is a step towards getting eyeballs and interest back in it."

"It's a great night's racing with strong fields in the Derby and Trotters' Cup, too."

Gath qualified classy former Kiwi pacer Tango Tara for the Cup through his last-start win in the rescheduled Kadina Cup at Globe Derby on October 10.

Stewart trains Cup favourite Wheres The Gold, while Herbertson has picked up a drive on the local comeback pacer Culture King and Butt will drive Sahara Tiger, one of three Cup starters for another Victorian raider, trainer Shane Sanderson.

Gath, who won the 2014 SA Cup with Caribbean Blaster, is more hopeful than confident he can win it again with Tango Tara.

"I saw he drew barrier two and got excited for a moment, but then I saw Wheres The Gold had the pole," he said.

"It's hard to say if it's a good draw or not for us now. Wheres The Gold has the speed to use the draw, and he's clearly the one to beat. He was very impressive winning his heat last week."

Tango Tara came from gate two in the Kadina Cup last start.

"He's been a terrific horse for us since coming over from NZ; he's just so honest. You know he'll run well, but he's just one of the chances now with Wheres The Gold inside him," Gath said.

Local Ryan Hryhorec will take the drive on Tango Tara because Gath and his wife, Kate, will be at Melton where their stable star, Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave, tackles the Gammalite free-for-all.

Wheres The Gold will also have a new driver, with trainer Emma Stewart's stable foreman Allan McDonough taking the reins. He drove the gelding to win a heat of the Tasmanian Cup in March.

McDonough will also partner Stewart's big winning hope in two of the other features: Our Vinnie in the SA Derby and Hesallmuscle in the SA Trotters' Cup.

·       Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.