Akuta on course to win second Kaikoura Cup today

By Michael Guerin

Expect to see the real Akuta in today’s $100,000 Alabar Kaikoura Cup.

That is the word from co-trainer Nathan Purdon as he and father Mark take two hot favourites to the two open class races at the beautiful seaside track.

They have Oscar Bonavena facing a 15m backmark in the White Morph South Bay Trotters Cup and Akuta as the even money favourite in the 100th running of the Kaikoura Cup.

The millionaire pacer who won this race two years ago has had an up and down spring and Nathan says like many members of their southern team he struggled with allergies once the warmer weather arrived. 

“Quite a few of them did and that was why he raced poorly one night at Addington and then missed some work,” says Purdon.

“So he was a bit short of his best at Ashburton last Monday but that race has really brought him on.

“He needed that run but he worked really well on Friday morning and I think we will see something like his best on Monday.”

Akuta stepped well and led before handing up to a rampant Republican Party last Monday but Purdon says if he reaches the front today he expects his father to stay there.

“The way he worked on Friday he is ready to run them.”

That suggests only fellow millionaire Merlin and to a lesser extent Sooner The Bettor are proven enough to challenge Akuta and even though he is short in the market you could make a case for backing him and saving on Merlin.

Nathan also expects Oscar Bonavena to improve on his last-start fifth in the Trotters Cup.

“He was also obviously not at his best that night so we have freshened him up and his work has been good.

“He was unlucky not to win this race a few years ago when he was checked on the home bend so we think he will handle the track and while it is never easy off a backmark at Kaikoura I think with any luck he can round them up.”

Today’s other feature is the NZBS Sales Series Aged Classic in which The Lazarus Effect is the clear one to beat off the front line while the meeting also sees the running of the fourth and fifth legs of the World Driving Championships.