By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
For a horse named after an All Black first five, Mo’unga produced a 10 out of 10 performance in this afternoon’s Alabar Kaikoura Cup.
The Bettor’s Delight five-year-old made it nine wins from just 21 starts and put himself very much in the frame for a IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup call up at Addington Raceway next Tuesday.
Trained by Regan Todd and driven by Robbie Close, Mo’unga started well and went to the lead before getting the perfect trail behind Tact McLeod. He then left them to it, winning by four lengths.
“It worked out perfectly,” said Todd post race, “he won super.”
“We’ll now have a good think about the Cup and next Tuesday.”
One of the outsiders Mossdale Ben charged up the passing lane to grab second while Australian visitor and Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse was involved in a scrimmage early and produced a huge run for driver Greg Sugars to grab third.
Mystic Max goes back to back
Earlier Mystic Max went back-to-back in the day’s feature trot at Kaikoura.
The Michael Purdon owned and trained five-year old led soon after the start of the Group 3 $60,000 White Morph South Bay Trotters Cup Hcp Trot and nearly seriously looked in danger of being run down.
“He’s jogged it,” said commentator Matt Cross as Mystic Max won the Cup for the second year in a row.
It was his ninth win in 41 starts.
Remarkably Mystic Max’s last win was the in the same race last year.
He went into the race as a clear cut favourite after finishing second to rising star Bet N Win in his most recent start, the Canterbury Park Cup at Addington on October 11.
Even before this afternoon’s win he was guaranteed a spot in the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion trot at Addington next Tuesday.
Second favourite Mighty Logan was second, with the Bob Butt trained and driven Gold Bullion third.
Orange in fine form
Blair Orange then made it a race to race double by taking out the $50,000 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales Aged Classic Handicap (Listed) with the Hayden Cullen-trained Wish Me Luck.
The combo bobbled at the start and there was trouble behind them when hot favourie Sooner The Bettor and Rakero Rocket locked wheels.
Wish Me Luck was then sent forward and got the lead and then held on in a desperate battle with Lester, who had the trail throughout.
Lester was second and Rakero Rocket put up a huge run to finish third.
