Macandrew Aviator to tune up for Invercargill Cup

By Jonny Turner

Macandrew Aviator will take an important step towards the Group 1 Invercargill Cup at Winton on Thursday.

Trainer Kirstin Green has the pacer back in his home province after he battled the best of the best pacers throughout the spring.

Macandrew Aviator is gearing up for what is set to be a remarkable day in Southland harness racing’s history after a freshen-up following his very unlucky run in the New Zealand Free-For-All.

If the horse is going to be a serious Invercargill Cup contender he is going to have to go a big race on Thursday when he drops down significantly in class.

And all signs point to him doing exactly that.

“He had no luck the whole (spring) really and he ran some fantastic races,” Green said.

“He has come home really good, he had 10 days off after he got home and he has freshened up really good.”

“Obviously he is not 100% at his peak after a 10-day let down but he should go pretty close I would say.”

“He is the class horse of the field.”

“You can’t underrate Robyns Playboy, we know how good he is on his day, but he should be right there.”

Macandrew Aviator opened the $1.60 favourite for race 10 with Robyns Playboy the $6 second favourite.

Max Hill uses his junior concession claim to drive Macandrew Aviator on Thursday.

Phil Williamson has a key hand to play in Thursday’s feature trot at Winton.

Love N The Port and Hurricane Hill opened the $4 equal favourites for race 6.

Though he doesn’t think there is a lot between them, Williamson leans towards Love N The Port as the slightly better winning chance.

“If they both bring their manners there may not be a lot between them.”

“I think Hurricane Hill is one nil up on Love N The Port the one time they did clash.”

“In saying that, the other fella has come back to him in the handicaps.”

“I think you would probably have to go with Love N The Port.”

Love N The Port comes into Thursday’s trot on the back of two solid performances at the New Zealand Cup Carnival.

“He didn’t have a lot of luck, he sat parked in one of them and he got squeezed up and had a gallop in the other in the early stages in the other.”

“It wasn’t entirely his fault and he went pretty big after.”

“You can’t afford a mistake at that level.”

“I was pretty happy with his runs, really.”

Matthew Williamson drives Love N The Port with Brent Barclay to reunite with Hurricane Hill.