Smoke On The Water too big in Marlborough Cup

By Mike Love 

Smoke On The Water showed he was a cut above his rivals in yesterday’s $25,000 Donegal House Marlborough Pacers Cup. 

The six-year-old Art Major gelding made it three wins in a row and his 12th overall for driver Robbie Close. 

Starting from a back mark of 40 metres, Smoke On The Water began safely and was soon put to sleep at the back of the field by Close. 

Replicating tactics when winning the Reefton Cup, Close unleashed the pacer from the 400 metres, swooping on their rivals. Misty Blue came with them and they fought the race out down the straight, with Smoke On The Water having Misty Blue comfortably covered at the line winning by three-quarters of a length. 

Smoke On The Water has overcome a few setbacks in his career, but trainer Matt Purvis has a few options for the next few months.  

“There's a 2000m stand at Addington (Feb 13), or maybe we’ll go up to Auckland for the Roy Purdon (May), or he’ll go down to Matty’s (Williamson) for races like the Wyndham Cup (March). But the end goal is the Country Cup’s Final (May),” said Purvis.

“He needs about two more points to secure a spot in the final then we will just go in free-for-all races. Two-years ago he copped a lot of racing leading into the final and it flattened him. He still ran a credible sixth, but hopefully we are better handicapped this year. He seems a lot stronger and is in a better head space this time.”

Smoke On The Water’s win gave Purvis his second win of the year and 184th of his training career with stakes just shy of $2million.

While the Pacers' Cup came down to a two way battle, so too was the Kam Transport Marlborough Trotters Cup.

Backmarkers Nellie Doyle and Moses were the clear top picks and that's how it worked out.

Tellingly Nellie Doyle and Blair Orange settled in front of their rivals and from three back the running line came with a strong burst mid track to beat a very game Moses by a head.

They were over four lengths clear of the third-placed Bullit Train.

Other highlights over the two-day circuit included Amanda Tomlinson driving three winners, including a double with Hope For Love. Her other win was with Zhutee.

Other horses to go back to back over the two days were Dark Ghana, Showcase and Bruntwood Brigade.