Betterthancash gains Rising Sun start

by Adam Hamilton

Emerging Kiwi pacer Betterthancash is in the $300,000 Rising Sun field.

As expected, a tentative flight to Brisbane for Chariots Of Fire winner Bay Of Biscay and his stablemate War Dan Buddy will not go ahead tomorrow.

Trainer Emma Stewart scratched the pair and her Inter Dominion trotting hopeful Harold Smith last night from Saturday’s Albion Park meeting.

Co-trainer Stacey White was thrilled to learn Betterthancash was in the field.

“You feel for the connections of those horses and the club to lose a star like Bay Of Biscay from the race, but we’re very happy to get a run,” she said.

Betterthancash gives NZ two genuine players in the Rising Sun, a race restricted to three and four-year-old pacers.

The other is Mark and Nathan Purdon’s three-year-old, Rubira.

The Purdons combined to win the inaugural Rising Sun in 2021 with former superstar mare Amazing Dream.

Rubira is $5.50 second favourite from barrier three, while Betterthancash firmed from $12 to $8 after being guaranteed a run. He will start from three-out on the back row (gate 10).

Betterthancash thrilled new trainers David and Stacey White with a terrific second to fellow Kiwi Pinseeker at Menangle last Saturday week.

It adds to a big opening Inter Dominion night for the Kiwis at Albion Park.

Inter Dominion trotting hopefuls Bet N Win, a stablemate of Betterthancash, is $1.50 to win his first heat from barrier one.

In the other trotting heat, Oscar Bonavena is $2.50 against likely leader London To A Brick ($2.10).

Even NZ’s lone pacing series hopeful, the Jonny Cox-trained Pinseeker, gets a chance for crucial early points from gate three in race four.

Earlier, brilliant Kiwi filly Captains Mistress is $2 favourite from the pole in the Rising Sun Consolation (race one).

Her task has been made a lot easier with Betterthancash and Jacks Ultimate Fury both getting starts in the Rising Sun itself.