Merlin $2.50 favourite for Tuesday's Auckland Cup

By Michael Guerin

One of the big guns of New Zealand pacing could be left sweating on a scratching to boost his chances in the last Group 1 of the year on Tuesday night.

Don’t Stop Dreaming can cap a rollercoaster year in the $250,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park, returned to its former New Year’s Eve date.

As has been the case all season Don’t Stop Dreaming and arch rival Merlin will dominate betting on the Cup, with Republican Party and Better Eclipse their greatest dangers, the latter trying to win the Auckland Cup for the second time this year.

But as the TAB market indicates it is advantage Merlin as he has drawn seven on the front line whereas Don’t Stop Dreaming may have to start from one on the second line.

He has drawn barrier 9 but only eight horses start on the front line. Don’t Stop Dreaming will move forward to the front line if there was a scratching on the front line before scratchings time on Tuesday morning.

That looks unlikely though and while standing starts can be funny things if he has to start on the second line he would appear to be disadvantaged as it would seem to give Merlin a chance to get in in front of him and try to stay there.

That was enough for the TAB bookies to put Merlin up as the $2.50 favourite with Don’t Stop Dreaming at $3.50 and Republican Party at $5.50 and Better Eclipse at $7.50.  Impressive Golden Gait open winner Jolimont is on the next line of betting at $9.

The other Group 1 of the night is the $100,000 Peter Breckon Memorial National Trot looks a two-horse race between Oscar Bonavena (barrier 3) and Muscle Mountain (4) with the pair likely to settle lead trail and Oscar having had the better of their recent battles.

To see the Auckland fields click here