Chasing consecutive country cups

CONNECTIONS of handy squaregaiter Meadow Valley Star hope he can continue his perfect record this weekend.

Making his debut for trainer Matthew Horsnell and clients a fortnight ago, Meadow Valley Star gave the crew an instant reward by capturing the Hamilton Trotters’ Cup.

Naturally thrilled with the gelding’s performance, Horsnell and company will search for consecutive provincial features when Meadow Valley Star tackles Sunday’s Wedderburn Trotters’ Cup.

“The plan is to follow the pacing circuit with Dhaulagiri, so having a travelling companion for him was the idea,” Horsnell said. “As such, I was looking for a country cups type trotter and he has worked out perfectly so far.

“You can’t ask for more than winning a cup first-up!”

Beginning from the 10-metre line last time around, Meadow Valley Star will move to the 20-metre backmark for his pending assignment.

“He showed good manners in Hamilton and a preference for the longer trip, so I’m pretty confident with him again,” Horsnell said. “I don’t think the extra 10 metres is a major concern as he appears to be as tough as nails and keeps finding.”

Later on the card Horsnell’s ‘original’ country cups campaigner – Dhaulagiri – will take his place in the Pacing Cup.

No stranger to Cup glory, the son of American Ideal won last season’s St Arnaud Cup and the Christmas Cup at Globe Derby.

To be driven by Lochie Cook, Dhaulagiri is a $3.80 favourite from barrier five.

“I expect a good run from him,” Horsnell said. “Sitting outside the leader in Hamilton didn’t suit him last time around and it took its toll up the home straight.

“I still felt he went super, but more importantly, he has come through the hard run well and has been sharp in his track work this week.

“He will get his chance, but so will the others as it is a pretty wide open race.

“There is a bit of depth in it and you can probably run it half a dozen times and get half a dozen different winners depending how it is run.”