Raymond Connors hoisted the Wellington Cup aloft in 2013 following Blood Brotha’s win, and this year he is hoping he can get his hands on the silverware once more.
Traditionally a two-mile test, Blood Brotha’s victory came in one of the seven editions of the race conducted over 2400m before it returned to its customary 3200m distance, and winning the iconic race in front of a sizeable Trentham crowd was a memorable one for the Bulls farmer.
“It was a good day, there wasn’t much in it, but he managed to get across the line first,” Connors said. “It’s good to say that you have won it.
“It was a big day, there were a lot of people there and hopefully it will be another big crowd this year. Normally Wellington Cup Day gets a good crowd.”
Blood Brotha was a standout stayer for Connors, with the son of Danzighill recording seven other victories and earned more than $600,000 in prizemoney, including two editions of the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m), Gr.3 Metropolitan Trophy (2500m), and placed in the Gr.2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m), Gr.2 Avondale Gold Cup (2400m), Metropolitan Trophy, Listed New Zealand St Leger (2500m), and was fourth in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
“He took us to Aussie where we raced him in the Sydney Cup. He was a good horse and we had a lot of fun with him,” Connors said.
“He wasn’t that far away in the Chairmans and was probably unlucky not to win that, and then he ran fair (for fourth) in the Sydney Cup. I was hoping he would go a bit better, but at least he was competitive, and he paid his way. It is good to be able to take a horse over for a race like that.
“We retired him on the farm, he’s still here but is starting to show his age (19) a bit now.”
Heading into this year’s edition of the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m), Connors is more hopeful than confident with his contender Trav, who is rated a $23 winning chance with TAB bookmakers.
The five-year-old son of Almanzor will be tested for the first time over two miles this weekend, where he will carry the 53kg minimum with veteran hoop Lisa Allpress in the saddle.
“It is good to have another runner in it,” Connors said.
“He has been a little bit disappointing but hopefully the extra distance will help. He has been getting back in his races, so I don’t know what to make of him to be honest.
“Lisa was happy with him last time. He is fit enough and if he is any good, he should run well.
“It’s a question mark as to whether he will get the distance. The way he races you would say he will, but you don’t know.
“There are a few handy ones there, but anyone can win it.”
The market is headed by Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) runner Interpretation, with the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding at a $3.20 win quote with TAB bookmakers following his fresh-up runner-up result in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
Trav will be joined on the float trip to Trentham by stablemate Our Daymo, who will be chasing the $350,000 purse on offer in the Race With Te Akau Remutaka Classic (2100m).
“He’s fit and ready to go,” Connors said. “He does like a bit of ease in the ground, but he should run well, he is pretty honest.”
Connors said it is nice to be competing for $750,000 in prizemoney in the two races on Saturday, and he is hoping one of his representatives can cause an upset and secure the lion’s share of the spoils on offer.
“It is nice to have horses in a couple of good races like that,” he said.
