Hopes high as Built For Glory targets Wairio Cup

Jonny Turner Harness Racing Journalist

Built For Glory will return to his happy place on Sunday to chase down an Otautau Four Square Wario Cup victory.

The four-year-old comes into the Winton feature unbeaten south of the Waitaki River, with five starts for five wins to his name.

While there is no doubting the Steve and Amanda Telfer trained pacer’s class as he prepares for another Southland raid, there are doubts over his standing start manners.

Built For Glory has faced the standing start tapes once in his short career, missing away at Nelson earlier last month.

Despite that, driver Tim Williams is hopeful his charge can be mistake-free in his Wairio Cup mission at Winton on Sunday.

“I think it was more circumstances on the day at Nelson, he can definitely get away better than that,” the reinsman said.

“From 30m on his own on Sunday, he gets his chance to step away and I am hopeful he can.”

“He was safe in his trial before Nelson, it is a different story at the races but it was a positive.”

“Hopefully he can do things right on Sunday, over 2400m he can’t afford to make a mistake.”

In his last visit to Southland, Built For Glory’s sat parked to beat his main Wairio Cup rival in Miraculous.

While that looks strong form, so does the pacer’s two-from-two record at Winton.

“His record down south and at Winton is great,” Williams said.

“He has had a lot of travel lately but he seems well and is a good-doing wee fella.”

“If he can get away, I am sure he can go a nice race.”

The Telfer stable bring several winning chances south to Wairio Cup Day including Caughttheeye who competes in the Southern Bred Southern Reared Diamond Creek Sorority.

The three-year-old brings strong form in the lower grades to the fillies feature.

“I thought her last start was a real step in the right direction,” Williams said

“She looped them and they went 1.53 for the mile and she ran a nice race.”

“This looks a nice opportunity for her, racing against her own sex for a good stake.”

Stonewall Stud also start Mythical in Sunday’s event while Sweet Diamond and Molly Belwin will compete in a heat of the Southern Belle Speed Series.

Sweet Diamond brings patchy form to a heat of the series she won last year.

“We have mixed her training up a wee bit, from the draw she might have to go back so she will probably need the right run into it,” Williams said.

B D Hall looks a solid eachway hope for the Telfer barn in Sunday’s Gold Chip Final, while Muchacho and Stillyourshot look the strongest of Williams’ outside drives.

The Brett Gray trained Stillyourshot has been excellent in his last three placings and he looks well suited in Sunday’s finale.

“It is great to get on a good chance for Brett, I am well down the order to get on one of his these days.”

“The horse has been in good form and the draw (1) is obviously a big help.”

The Tony Stratford trained Muchacho starts from a contrasting draw in barrier 8 in race 8.