By Jonny Turner
Bar Louie’s talent isn’t in question as he approaches today’s Kurow Cup.
The pacer’s sparkling winter form saw him installed a short-priced favourite for Sunday’s feature at Oamaru (3.14pm).
Bar Louie will attempt to make it four-from-four this time in when starting from a 20m handicap for driver Tim Williams.
While Williams knows Bar Louie is good enough to continue his unbeaten run in the South Island, he knows the Kurow Cup is a new challenge for the three-year-old.
“He has been great this time in, but this race is a whole new ballgame for him.”
“It’s a big field, with a few nice ones in there, and he’s got the 20m to overcome, so it is not going to be straightforward.”
“But if does everything right and gets a little bit of luck he has shown that he is up to it.”
Bar Louie’s last two wins have come in mobile sprints, but before that he was a slick winner of the Timaru Cup, over the Kurow Cup distance of 2600m.
“He stepped away nice in the Timaru Cup, and he has been good in his trials lately,” Williams said.
“We gave him a bit of a freshen up and he seems to have come back well, his trials have both been good.”
The in-form combination of Williams and Stonewall Stud trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer start two more key chances on Kurow Cup Day.
With two scratchings inside him, Riptide gets the ace draw in Sunday’s finale for the combination.
“All of his runs have been good and there is probably no reason why he can’t produce another one.”
“Passchendaele looks a good chance, but we have the draw advantage over him which should hopefully help.”
Williams will link up with another in-form pacer from the Stonewall team at Oamaru in Mystic Magic.
“She’s got great manners and hopefully she can bring them again, because it would be a big advantage for her.”
“If she can step and put herself in the right spot, she should go a nice race.”
Williams takes one outside drive on Kurow Cup Day in Captain Cool for trainer Korbyn Newman.
“I have only driven him once and he trialled quite nice.”
“He probably hasn’t drawn the best spot in (barrier) 7, but with any luck he should be a handy each way chance.”