A post report on Tuesday night told Geoff Dunn all he needed to know about Tiger Tara's chances in yesterday's group 1 New Zealand Free-For-All.
Dunn's son, James, took the entire home to West Melton after his sixth in Tuesday's New Zealand Cup and it sounded as if Tiger Tara was ready to go another round.
''James took him home and said he was bucking and kicking and trying to bite him - he ate his tea up and all was good,'' Dunn said.
The 5yr-old gave his increasing band of fans plenty to cheer about yesterday when he capitalised on a perfect drive from Gerard O'Reilly to win the 1950m feature over a game Mossdale Conner.
Tiger Tara's winning hopes in the New Zealand Cup looked forlorn with 800m to go, but the odds were much more in his favour yesterday when he lobbed the one-out, one-back spot behind Arden Rooney and wore down Mossdale Conner, who dragged a flat tyre for the last 250m.
''Things didn't go to plan on Tuesday but that's the way it goes,'' Dunn said.
Tiger Tara has settled in comfortably to the open-class grade, and Dunn is keen on a crack across the Tasman Sea.
The Hunter Cup suits Tiger Tara's excellent standing-start manners; the Victoria Cup is another option, and Dunn would jump at the chance of a Miracle Mile start if an invitation was forthcoming.
''He's got a bit of everything - he's got really high speed and he can stay,'' Dunn said.
''And what he does is he relaxes. He never gets up on the nickel too much - he's got the all-round game. We've just got to keep him right.
The Auckland Cup carnival in December is a likely option as well, particularly as Dunn has figured out a trick with the son of Bettor's Delight.
''The first time he went up there he got sick before the Woodlands Derby,'' he said.
''The first night he was disastrous. We treated him up, and he came out and won the Derby. But I know the trick now to get him to travel.''
