Cup champion Terror To Love is likely to be back in Southland next week after an arrogant appearance in the group 3 Northern Southland Cup at Ascot Park last night.
The three-time New Zealand Cup supremo poured on the pressure in the last 800m of the race to down Arden Rooney by almost a length.
But it was the manner of the win which suggested he was just a cut above his seven rivals as he and Arden Rooney went hoof to hoof in the last 400m, which was run in a blistering 26.6sec despite a strong wind affecting the field.
Terror To Love was defending his 2013 Northern Southland crown, but his driver, Ricky May, said the difference between last year - when he was never happy with the ''feel'' of Terror To Love despite the win - and this year was marked.
''He was a lot better today,'' May said.
''During the preliminary, he was much better than last time he was down here.
''I thought it was going to be hard with the wind and Arden Rooney off the front [mark], but as it turned out, he made a really good beginning and settled nicely.''
May sent the 6yr-old forward with 1400m to go, and settled outside Arden Rooney at the bell.
''[Arden Rooney] was getting it pretty easy, so I made him work the last 800.''
Terror To Love's co-trainer, Graham Court, said the Invercargill Cup on January 25 was now on the radar.
''It was just a nice run for him and I was really happy with him,'' Court said.
''I'd say he'll be coming back here for Invercargill.''
That means a tilt at the Hunter Cup in Melbourne a week later is almost certainly off the cards, taking travel between Invercargill, Christchurch and Melbourne in to account.
The prospects for the likes of Jason Rulz, Franco Ledger, Arden Rooney and Jimmy Johnston do not get much better for next week either.
The son of Western Terror was back at the stables 15 minutes after the race, looking no worse for having just paced 2700m at high speed.
''I never turned the whip around. You wouldn't think he had run a race,'' May said.''
He always tries pretty hard when he's fit, so he's pretty much there really.''
Arden Rooney's driver and co-trainer Mark Purdon gave his charge a pass mark for his first battle against the cup champion, and confirmed he would be back for the Invercargill Cup.''
We cleared out by two to three lengths on [Jimmy Johnstone in third] so I was really pleased,'' Purdon said.
