John Morrison is hoping he will be smiling like he was with Di Caprio last year, in tomorrow’s Methven Cup. Photo supplied.On Monday morning John Morrison was thinking he had a huge chance of winning tomorrow’s Methven Cup, but by lunchtime, the leading junior driver wasn’t quite so sure.

It wasn’t that he lost any confidence in his drive, Di Caprio, in the Group Three feature at the Mount Harding course, but more that the inclusion of two race rivals no-one expected to be there all of a sudden made the mountain a little steeper to climb.

They weren’t just any run of mill runners either.

One was current favourite for the New Zealand Trotting Cup next month, Self Assured, and the other is a horse who was superb when running second to him last week at Addington, stablemate, Spankem – both hailing from the powerful Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen stable, which has won seven of the last 10 Methven Cups.

“It certainly got a lot tougher when you saw their names down on the nominations,” Morrison said.

“But it hasn’t really dented my optimism too much to be fair, I still think I’ve got a horse capable of winning the race.

“I’ve never driven a horse as quick as him on the grass.

“In fact, he’s got speed on the grass that some horses couldn’t muster on the all-weather, he’s that quick.”

Sixth, fourth and then second in his three starts back for this campaign, Di Caprio went from being a relative unknown in the open class pacing ranks to one of many seemingly vying for spots just behind the heavy-hitters.

His second last time out behind Classie Brigade was excellent, and Morrison said he’s expecting an even better version to show up to Methven tomorrow.

“He looks a million dollars.

“All of Brian’s (trainer Brian O’Meara) horses look amazing, but he looks better than I have ever seen him look.”

Drawn the outside of the front line, Morrison knows the key to success will be a swift beginning, and he’s hoping he can find himself in a good spot without having to do too much extra early on in the 3000m race.

“That’s the key to it, if we can begin like he has been and find the right spot, he’s got to be a big chance – but that could determine it either way.”

A $10 chance in the race with bookmakers, Di Caprio and Morrison will be relying on a good result tomorrow to further enhance their possibilities of being a contender come the second Tuesday in November at Addington – a situation which would be a dream come true for the youngster.

“You grow up like I did, dreaming of driving in any race – let alone potentially a New Zealand Cup.

“It’s huge, and I’m just lucky that I’ve been given an opportunity to drive such a nice horse for a legendary trainer like Brian O’Meara.”

O’Meara, of course, trained the champion pacer Christian Cullen among many other top-flight horses, so knows what it takes to make it on the biggest of stages.

Currently ranked 14th on the order of entry for the Cup, a top three finish tomorrow would push him right into the fold, and all but ensure he gains a start.

While stepping out in the Methven Cup will be the highlight of the day for Morrison, a strong book of drives throughout the programme has him in good stead for another solid day at the office.

With 13 wins next to his name already for the season and drives such as Harrison and Standout, both of whom he trains, as well as the locally-trained Franco Josiah there’s a strong chance his season figure will be improved by Sunday evening.

But putting his name on a historic race like the Methven Cup, given his ties to the Mid Canterbury area, would be the ultimate for the rising star of the harness racing sport.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 9 October 2020