Curtin ready to Tango at Kaikoura

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Tango Tara will have his final hit-out at Kaikoura on Monday ahead of the Gr.1 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m) at Addington Raceway on November 10.

Trainer and driver Jim Curtin is pleased with the five-year-old ahead of Monday’s assignment, but drawing nine on the tight-turning Kaikoura track is his biggest concern.

“He’s nice and bright, he has just got a tricky draw,” the Templeton horseman said.

“He has drawn one on the second line, so that’s the tricky thing, especially at Kaikoura where you have to be pretty handy early.”

Tango Tara has placed in three of his last four starts, including the Gr.2 Canterbury Classic (2600m) and Gr.3 Hannon Memorial (2600m) and Curtin is hoping for a similar result on Monday.

“He went a good race last start, the winner was just a bit too good for him,” Curtin said.

“When we scoped him he had a little bit of mucus, but everything seems to be good there now.

“He has been pretty consistent and has been running some good times.”

Tango Tara is currently fourth in order of entry for the New Zealand Cup and Curtin is delighted to have a runner in the time-honoured race.

“It’s always good to be in there that’s for sure, it’s pretty hard to have one good enough to be in there,” he said.

On Monday, Curtin will also line-up Kerala Star in the Kaikoura Waste Services Mobile Pace (1900m).

“Karela Star has been racing quite well with not much luck,” Curtin said. “He has got a good draw, and has had one workout and went alright, so he should go alright.”

Curtin will also take the reins behind Kruizr in the Listed PGG Wrightson Sales Series Aged Classic (2400m) for trainer Michael House.

“He has been racing alright,” Curtin said. “He has got a good draw (2) so needs to step well and get a good run.”