It’s NZ Cup day – harness racing’s biggest and most important meeting of them all.
Today there’ll be 12 races, starting at 12.08pm, and there will be race by race coverage of them all as they happen. Be sure to check out hrnz’s social media channels as well to keep up to date.
RACE 1 : $30,000 SAUNDERS ROBINSON BROWN HANDICAP TROT (3200M)
Cup day 2024 is underway with a big wide open field of trotters over 3200 metres and fittingly it was seven-time New Zealand Cup-winning driver Ricky May who took out the first with the Phil Williamson-trained Sheza Gift. “It’s a good start to be fair,” said May post race. Sheza Gift was parked for a time but still managed to overhaul a very game Mixed Faith who went clear turning for home. Masterly ran into second while favourite Tu Tangata stormed home into fourth. Both Masterly and Tu Tangata are trained by Paul Nairn. It was Sheza Gift’s fifth win in 25 starts. She paid $9.50 for the win.
RACE 2 : $30,000 HYDROFLOW MOBILE PACE
Dave Duley did it tough to win the second. After being three wide for a bit, driver John Dunn had the three-year-old gelding parked outside Commander Joe, with favourite Dynasty getting the sweet trip in the trail. But Dave Duley never flinched though he did look to be in serious strife when Miki Bennett flashed up with 100 or so to go, only to break into a gallop and lose all chance. Bettor Be Sharp held second, with Salute and that man Ricky May finishing third. Trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn, it was Dave Duley’s third win in 17 starts.
RACE 3 : MITRE 10 HANDICAP TROT
It was a lead-trail one-two in race 3 with southerner Julie Jaccka and Nathan Williamson getting the perfect trip before they scooted up the passing lane. Zoltan Boscik had led right from the start and was very game in finishing second, with Cody Banner capitalising on a cushy run three back the fence to hold third. Rush finished on well to nab fourth. Trained by Brett Gray it was Julie Jaccka’s fifth win in 27 starts. Julie Jaccka paid $15 for the win.
RACE 4 : Group 3 $40,000 TAB JUNIOR FREE-FOR-ALL MOBILE PACE
There were shades of Copy That as Blair Orange made his mark on Cup day and it came with The Big Lebowski in the first Group race of the day. The Ray Green-trained The Big Lebowski was in the one-one then three back the running line before Orange made his move at the 600 metre mark. They held off the challenges of a fast finishing Ohoka Connor and Sooner The Bettor, who got the perfect trip in the trail behind The Falcon. The Falcon finished fourth for new trainer Jason Grimson. Aussie star Catch A Wave was never a factor after going back from a wide draw. It was The Big Lebowski’s eighth win in 36 starts for owners Merv and Meg Butterworth. He paid $10 for the win. In 2021 and 2022 the Orange, Green and Butterworth combo had dual NZ Cup success with Copy That.
RACE 5 : $200,000 Group 1 NEVELE R 3YO FILLIES SERIES FINAL (MOBILE PACE)
The country’s leading reinsman Blair Orange completed a race to race Group-winning double when Treacherous Baby won the day’s first Group 1, wearing down hot favourite Duchess Megxit. Treacherous Bay went round the field to look for the lead but Duchess Megxit and Zachary Butcher were having none of it. Treacherous Baby then had to sit parked for a time before getting into the one-one. Orange then got the better of Duchess Megxit in the final 200. It was a gutsy effort, with a flourish of whip showing just how much it meant. Orange works for and is the go-to driver for winning trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon and said post race : “I got great enjoyment out of that.” It was Treacherous Baby’s sixth win in 19 starts. She paid $6.
RACE 6 : $30,000 AOTEA ELECTRIC PACE
Despite awkward draws, The Lazarus Effect and Rise Up N Dance dominated the market, and The Lazarus Effect lived up to the hype with an emphatic victory. With a lap to go Bob Butt made a three wide move and then went to lead with Rise Up N Dance in the trail. From there he never looked like losing as he made it two wins from two starts. Outsiders Tempo Warrior and Take The Deal filled the minors, with Rise Up N Dance finishing fourth. The Lazarus Effect paid just $1.95 to be the shortest priced winner of the day so far. The race had two false starts before finally getting underway. In one of the skirmishes Bob Butt was tipped out of the cart but clearly The Lazarus Effect was not phased as he again showed he has class to burn.
RACE 7 : $400,000 Group 1 RENWICK FARMS DOMINION TROT
Australian superstar Just Believe was all the rage to win trotting’s big race and that’s exactly how it turned out. Paying $1.60 the millionaire trotter started safely enough from his handy draw and was then eased into the lead. From there driver Greg Sugars never looked like being headed. Big local hope Bet N Win had a tough trip. He was eased back and then circled the field before fading to 12th. Mighty Logan meanwhile was three back the fence and rattled home to finish second, ahead of Oscar Bonavena. Just Believe is now unbeaten in five NZ starts this year. He has now won 38 from 82 starts. As he claimed trotting’s biggest prize commentator Matt Cross said “the pride of Australia becomes a legend of our sport”.
RACE 8 : 3:53pm GARRARDS MOBILE PACE
There was delight for young trainer Tom Bamford as Rakero Rocket capitalised on a great trip for driver Gavin Smith in Race 8. Aussie gun Cam Hart went straight to the lead with favourite Hadron Collider and tried to lead them all the way. But Rakero Rocket was in his slipstream and was good enough to wear down the leader for win number 5 at start number 12. The second favourite, Rakero Rocket paid $3.70. Pinseeker produced a huge effort to finish third.
RACE 9 : $200,000 Group 1 WOODLANDS STUD SIRES’ STAKES SERIES FINAL
Gun two-year-old Marketplace was the $1.55 favourite in a hot field and he had to call on all his speed and stamina to win it. Driver Craig Ferguson blasted to the lead from a wide draw. The pace was on. “A lead time of 23.1. I can’t believe it,” said commentator Matt Cross. Marketplace then took the trail behind Rubira only to make use of the passing lane and make it five wins in a row. “He had every reason to get beat the speed they were going,” said trainer Regan Todd, “I’m just a very lucky bloke to have him.” It was Ferguson’s first Group 1 victory as a driver. As Todd said post race “Mum and Dad will be going nuts”. The Purdon-trained pair of Rubira and Demon Blue finished second and third with northern hope Captain Sampson finishing eighth.
RACE 10 : AVON CITY FORD TROT
Blair Orange completed his third win for the day when Sunny Louis got home at generous double figures ($12). And it was a copybook drive. The combo were in a tricky position with 800 to go but Orange got out and was three wide turning for home before leaving the rest of them to it. Jordan Anne got out at huge odds for second for Nathan Williamson with brother Brad just holding on for third with Krackaling. Favourite Fear And Faith galloped and lost all hope.
RACE 11 : $1m Group 1 IRT NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP
Defending champion Swayzee has done it again. The champion Aussie pacer took out the country’s biggest race for the second year running after a powerhouse performance. He started slowly but surely then circled the field to take the lead with Kiwi stars Don’t Stop Dreaming and Merlin hot on his tail. In the run home Swayzee actually got headed by Don’t Stop Dreaming only to fight back and get the spoils for driver Cam Hart and trainer Jason Grimson. Swayzee only got into the field after his connections paid a late fee of $28,000 last week and only days ago he was winning a race in Young in New South Wales. It’s an extraordinary story. Swayzee was the favourite at $2.60. Don’t Stop Dreaming was second, with Republican Party finishing well at good money for third. “I had full confidence in the horse to run a full two miles,” said Cam Hart, “to come back and go back-to-back is unbelievable.” It’s Swayzee’s 25th win in 58 starts.
RACE 10 : GOLD BAND TAXIS MOBILE PACE
Regan Todd capped off a day to remember with his second training success of the day. Borrisokane, driven by Sheree Tomlinson, was back early then made his move. He was pushed to the lead and then it was a case of holding on. And he did, as the Steven Reid pair of Next Level and Bazooka grabbed second and third. Borrisokane was a $2.80 favourite. It was his fifth win in 23 starts. And that is Cup day 2024!
