Steel The Show steals the show at Addington

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Steel The Show scored a deserved victory at Addington Raceway on Saturday when running down hot favourite It’s All About Faith in The Crossing – Fashion Starts Here Mobile Pace (1980m).

The Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained gelding has been in a purple patch of form but had failed to greet the judge in his previous five starts this preparation, including placings in the Gr.3 Methven Cup (2850m) and Listed NZ Yearling Sales Series Aged Classic Handicap Pace (2600m), and a fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m).

While pleased with his campaign to date, his connections were over the moon that he was finally able to return to the winner’s circle on Saturday.

“That was great, he really deserved that win,” Robert Dunn said.

“He is a lovely horse, he doesn’t go bad races. His fourth in the Cup was a top run.

“He gives me the impression that he is going to get better and better, and he is going to eventually finish up a grand circuit horse one day.”

While he hadn’t raced since the New Zealand Trotting Cup last month, the son of Bettor’s Delight was set to start favourite in the Geraldine Cup (2850m) last week, but was withdrawn due to the deteriorating weather.

“Johnny (Dunn, stable foreman/driver) was going to take him down to the Geraldine Cup but it got wet. He’s not the greatest gaited horse, so Johnny decided to pull him out, which was a good move, and set him for this race here,” Dunn said.

Steel The Show’s immediate targets are yet to be decided, but Dunn said he will inevitably make his way north to tackle some Alexandra Park features from the stable’s Pukekohe barn.

“We have got to have a look at everything,” Dunn said.

“He will eventually come up here (Pukekohe) because he is very good the Auckland way around.

“The Taylor Mile and Messenger are now Open races, so he will come for those and the Auckland Cup.

“We are going to play a very patient game with this horse because his run in the Cup last month was so good that we know next year he is going to be a lot better.”

While stablemate Archman tailed the field home in the small but select field on Saturday, Dunn was happy with the way he acquitted himself against quality opposition.

“It was an amazing step up against a very small, but very strong, high-powered field,” Dunn said.

“I think Archman is going to win a lot of races and is going to have a great run through the country cups around the South Island.”