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Monkey King caps classic campaign with Cup win

Monkey King’s six-month campaign that consisted of just 12 starts culminated in a game win in the Trillian Trust Auckland Cup on Friday. The victory, Monkey King’s 35th all told, took him to $1.7 million in earnings for the season.

It wasn’t Monkey King’s greatest win of the season. He’d been to hell and back a few times in recent months but it was another glowing example of his class and speed.

Monkey King was advantaged by the barrier draw and when Ohoka Dallas was sent to the outside of the front line for causing a false start life got even better for the New Zealand champ.

From that point the race panned out as many predicted. Bondy surged out to take the early lead off Monkey King. There he stayed until ‘Benny’s Bullet’ burst through in the passing lane to claim victory.

There was a brief moment of concern for the champ though. Stablemate Bailey’s Dream, who had faced the breeze for the latter part of the race, had shot to the lead and had a wee break on the field with 150 to run. For a moment it looked as though Bailey might snuff Monkey King’s star out this night.

But Monkey King picked his feet up one last time for the season and drove it home. But just before the line, another fright. Tintin In America, another speed freak dashed through late to make it interesting, right on the line, while Monkey King was posing for the camera.

All accolades were with the winner though. Eight wins over the course of his campaign, including four Group 1s makes Monkey King a white-hot favourite for Horse of the Year title. The $300,000 earned on Friday night by Monkey King took his lifetime earnings to $2.91 million. Just shy of Lyell Creek’s New Zealand record earnings, a record he looks destined to break in the spring.

Monkey King’s feat of winning the NZ Cup, NZ FFA, Miracle Mile and Auckland Cup in one season is a rare feat only matched by some of the greats of harness racing. These previous winners include Christian Cullen, Master Mood, Chokin and Christopher Vance.

Monkey King - season snapshot

1st Auckland 12/03/2010 2700m Mob (Gr1) Stake: $500,000 Won: $280,000 Time: 3-21.0 (MR: 1-59.8)
2nd Menangle 07/03/2010 2300m Mob (Gr1) Stakes: $1,000,000 Won: $257,467 Win Time: 2-42.6 (MR: 1-53.8)
1st Newcastle 27/02/2010 2030m Mob (Gr3) Stake: $40,000 Won: $25,167 Time: 2-26.6 (MR: 1-56.2)
1st Harold Park 19/02/2010 2160m Mob (Gr3) Stake: $40,000 Won: $25,167 Time: 2-41.5 (MR: 2-00.3)
1st NZ Metro 06/02/2010 2600m Mob (Listed) Stake: $70,418 Won: $41,720 Time: 3-12.2 (MR: 1-58.9)
4th Moonee Valley 11/12/2009 2240m Mob (Gr1) Stake: $400,000 Won: $25,452 Win Time: 2-41.1 (MR: 1.55.7)
1st Menangle 29/11/2009 1609m Mob (Gr1) Stake: $500,000 Won: $376,553 Time: 1.50.8 (MR: 1.50.8)
1st NZ Metro 13/11/2009 2000m Mob (Gr1) Stake: $224,036 Won: $138,220 Time: 2-22.4 (MR: 1-54.5)
1st NZ Metro 10/11/2009 3200m Stand (Gr1) Stake: $1,000,000 Won: $538,860 Time: 3-57.3 (MR: 1-59.3)
2nd NZ Metro 16/10/2009 2600m Stand Stake: $10,563 Won: $1,850 Win Time: 3-11.6 (MR: 1-58.5)
1st NZ Metro 02/10/2009 2600m Stand 7+Wins (Gr3) Stake: $25,000 Won: $14,694 Time: 3-13.2 (MR: 1-59.5)
2nd Oamaru 27/09/2009 2600m Stand 5+Wins (Gr3) Stake: $39,689 Won: $7,600 Win Time: 3-18.1 (MR: 2-02.6)

** All Australian money won converted to NZD

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Russley Rascal dominates Derby

Russley Rascal made it look all too easy on Friday night at Auckland when he dominated the Group 1 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby. His hot favourite status was proved after an easy four length win over his three-year-old opponents.

Regular driver Blair Orange eased Russley Rascal out from barrier four to sit quietly in fifth position as they ran passed the judge for the first time. By this stage stablemate Secret Potion was controlling the race up front. With 1600 metres to run, Orange made his move, bringing Russley Rascal three-wide to overtake Secret Potion. From there the race belonged to the son of Mach Three.

As they turned into the home straight the field had bunched with the competition launching at Russley Rascal. However he was just too good. At the 150 metre mark, Orange set him alight to shoot clear of his age group rivals. A convincing four-length margin saw Russley Rascal claim his first Group victory.

The battle was fierce for the minor positions with Five Star Anvil’s fast finish seeing him take second. The $20 place chance held out Devil Dodger by three-quarters-of-a-length.

Friday night’s win was Russley Rascal’s seventh from ten starts. Owned by Neil Picher and Bill Grice, Russley Rascal earned $280,000 for his win at Alexandra Park to take his debut season to $350,780 in stakes. He has now taken over Sir Lincoln on the 3YO Emerald leader board, whilst Five Star Anvil sits in third.

The Northern Derby was the third consecutive win for the Purdon and Payne team after taking out the previous two races, both the Young Guns Finals. Later on in the evening the team scored their fourth win with I Can Doosit in the NZ Metropolitan TC Trot. Out of the nine Harness Jewels, the training duo currently lead five of the Jewel leader boards with a further 13 horses within the top 12’s. The partnership currently leads the 2010 Premiership with 82 wins.

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Major win for both Mark’s

Mark Purdon is a force to be reckoned with, especially when it comes to the Cardigan Bay Stakes. On Friday night at Alexandra Park, Purdon won his eighth Stakes as a driver, this time with Major Mark. Trained by Purdon and Grant Payne, the two-year-old showed his true worth when taking out the Group 2 Breckon Farms Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes.

Earning a start in the series final by winning heats one and three, Major Mark was hot favourite for the 1700 metre pace. Wearing the yellow Harness Jewels colours, Purdon shot Major Mark forward at the beginning of the race however a speed battle in front led him to hold the colt back and sit patiently in the running line. With a lap to run, he was in the one-one.

Purdon swooped as they ran off the back straight to even up with frontrunner, The Cotton Club. Charging for home Major Mark unleashed to overtake the leader and sprint down the straight. Although moving wide on the track, the son of Art Major was able to hold off the competition and by the 100 metre mark, the race was wrapped up. Ken Barron took out the minor positions with Thumpem, three lengths back in second and Major Obsession in third.

Major Mark’s five starts are made up by three wins, a second and a third. His third was in the Group 3 NZ Sapling Stakes, with the Young Guns series as his first Group win. He has earned $107,800 in stakes and is the clear leader in the 2YO Emerald Harness Jewel.

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Delightful Lady Classic to Collectable

Collectable is making quite a name for herself. The two-year-old filly claimed her third consecutive win on Friday night in her first Group start, the Group 3 Cullen Breeding Young Guns Delightful Lady Classic. As part of the Mark Purdon and Grant Payne-trained North Island team, she has been teamed up with Nicole Molander and together they are proving unbeatable.

Starting from the mobile Collectable was not the fastest out, but Molander was happy to move her into the one-one behind Purdon and Abide With Me as Miss Elsie sizzled to take the early lead. They stayed in these positions through to the final bend when Molander peeled out three-wide to launch Collectable.

Running to the line it became a battle between Miss Elsie and Collectable but as they passed the 100 metre marker, Molander urged Collectable clear. She sped clear of her rival and easily paced to Group victory with four lengths to spare. Her winning time of 2.04.9 (1.58.2 mile rate) is a new race record. The Colin and Julie De Filippi-trained Miss Elsie finished in second spot, one-and-a-half lengths ahead of Cran Dalgety runner, Bettor Move It.

With three unbeaten starts, Collectable is the frontrunner for the 2YO Diamond Jewel. Currently wearing the yellow Harness Jewels colours, the daughter of Mach Three has earned $67,055 in stakes in just one month of racing. She is currently owned by Studholme Bloodstock Ltd.

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Sno’s Big Boy’s first group victory

In his third season of racing, Sno’s Big Boy has finally claimed Group glory after winning the Group 3 Auckland Co-Op Taxis City of Sails FFA Trot at Alexandra Park on Friday night. With top reinsman Tony Herlihy in the sulky, the Steven Reid and Graeme Rogerson-trained gelding proved his favouritism with a confident front running win in the feature trot of the night.

The best to begin from the mobile was Pocaro who shot forward to take the early lead. From barrier five, Herlihy was not far behind and before long Sno’s Big Boy was crossing Pocaro to take charge. From here he set a comfortable pace over the 2200 metres, conserving enough gas for the charge home.

As they hit the home straight Sno’s Big Boy lunged out in front with Pocaro, whipping through on the passing lane, challenging in a two-horse race for the line. Sno’s Big Boy’s lead gained at the top of the straight was just too much for Pocaro to overcome. Her trainers’, Mark Purdon and Grant Payne, came only half-a-head away from claiming their fourth Group win of the night. Isa Good Looking finished in third spot for John Green and Brian Hughes.

From his 33 starts, Sno’s Big Boy has now won 11 and placed 12 times. Owned by the Breckon Racing Syndicate, the Muscles Yankee gelding has earned $152,109 in stakes. Although a top horse in the trotting ranks, the five-year-old has been unlucky in recent years especially in the Harness Jewels when he finished seventh in both his attempts. However things look on the improve for Sno’s Big Boy who is having his best season to date.

Sno’s Big Boy was only one of two North Island-trained runners to win at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The other was Race 1 winner Stormy Sirocco for Jeff Crouth. Eight races were taken out by South Island-based trainers.

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Pacific Fleet’s West Coast double

With the Greymouth TC’s dates handed over to Westport and Reefton, horses now have two tracks to contend with in a two-day meeting. However this did not faze the Robert Dunn-trained Pacific Fleet who did the West Coast double on Friday and Sunday, winning the Kawatiri Cup followed by the Greymouth Cup.

Paying $19 on the tote, Pacific Fleet caused an upset on day one at Patterson Park when winning the Kawatiri Cup which was the Greymouth Cup prelude. Driver Tim Williams sent the four-year-old straight to the front from the standing start before Tor Riley took over with 1500 metres to run. Williams patiently sat in the trail until the home straight where he snuck through on the markers to charge home winning by one-and-a-quarter lengths over To Ri Dette, with Tor Riley holding on for third.

Sunday saw punters have more faith in Pacific Fleet as they backed him into second favourite. Despite finishing fourth on Friday, Another Homer was the Greymouth Cup favourite. Drawing barrier one, Williams had Pacific Fleet underway very well and was the early race leader. With 2500 metres to travel, Another Homer had crossed Pacific Fleet to take charge. Only 500 metres later the swoopers made their move pushing Pacific Fleet to be buried three-back on the markers.

As they ran off the back for home, Williams came off the markers to find clear room down the centre of the track. It was a tougher battle than Friday as Meglo looked to be holding Pacific Fleet, however a final surge from the son of Pacific Rocket saw him win the Grymouth Cup by half-a-length. Meglo finished second a length ahead of Another Homer in third.

Owned by Rose Dunn, Peter Bagrie and Elaine Bagrie, Pacific Fleet has won six of his 20 starts since May last year. The four-year-olds stakes have reached $41,000. Sunday’s Cup was part of the Canterbury Country Cup series however with only 10 points Pacific Fleet is 10th equal, with seven other contenders, on the table.

It was a good afternoon at Reefton for Dunn with three training wins. His first came in Race 4 with Storm Attack, driving by his son John. The father/son team were back to it with The Fed Express comfortably winning Race 6. Dunn is currently on 40 training wins for the season and is on track to surpass his personal best of 57, which was set last season.

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Champion: Blacks A Fake creates history in Inter-Dom

Four Inter-Dominions in five years! Blacks A Fake has gone where no harness horse has been before. In a spellbinding performance, Blacks A Fake held out final favourite Monkey King to record the record-breaking win at Menangle on Sunday in the $1 million final.

Taking his stake earnings to more than $4.1 million, Blacks A Fake was entitled to be run down by Monkey King but as only the truly great ones do, they find that bit extra and ward off their challengers.

As the mobile pulled away Washakie dashed to the leads, as expected. He was hotly challenged early by Bondy then Smoken Up who lobbed up outside the leader to try his luck.

After settling into their running order not much changed. Washakie ticked off solid mid-race sections and it wasn’t until the back straight the last time when Blacks A Fake was forced to show his hand. Natalie Rasmussen moved Blacks A Fake out three wide but wasn’t going to be rushed into surging up outside the leaders.

Blacks A Fake sat pat, three-wide just off the speed. Monkey King seemingly in position A1, on Blacks A Fake back. The field concertinaed up in behind.

As they ran into the home straight it appeared a four-horse war. Washakie however was first to feel the pinch. Smoken Up found the lead but the charges were coming. Blacks A Fake loomed and Monkey King peeled off his back.

Just as it seemed the inevitable was going to happen, a repeat of the Miracle Mile when Monkey King had the last say, Blacks A Fake fired and repelled the challenge.

Blacks A Fake had held on for his fourth Inter-Dom title. He stopped the clock at a record shattering 1.53.8 mile rate for the 2300-metre distance.

Blackie had raced his way into harness racing immortality. Sunday’s win his 61st from 82 starts and took his lifetime earnings to $4.18 million.

Monkey King was gallant in second. Perhaps he wasn’t quite at his brilliant best but his return was still a grand one. He was clearly New Zealand’s best and pocketed his connections a cool AUD$200,000 for his efforts. Smoken Up was tremendous in third. He faced the breeze and beat the rest. Talk of him being off his game proven to be unfounded unfounded.

Smoken Up’s third placing also toppled him over the million-dollar in stake earnings. His Grand Final third was yet another in a recent string of Grand Circuit placings - his fourth this season after placings in the NZ Cup, Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup.

Changeover was best of the rest. David Butcher drove a canny race on Changeover. Without spending an ounce of additional fuel Changeover ran on well into fourth, just popping off Bondy who despite having a cushy trip for most of the race was disappointed for space at the top of the straight.

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Monkey King closing in on Lyell Creek

Monkey King 's stunning season has seen the pacer climb the ladder of NZ's highest earning stake earners, to sit just behind champion trotter, Lyell Creek . During his seven seasons, Lyell Creek earned $2,961,137 whilst Monkey King is fast closing the gap with $2,631,590 in stakes.

Leading all-time NZ stake earners

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Trainer and Driver Milestones

Congratulations to the following trainers and drivers who have achieved lifetime milestones  this season:

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New Stud Book

Volume 36 of the stud book is due in store the first week of December. It has been four years since the previous volume, whilst only a limited number are being produced. So order yours now.

Stud books can be purchased from the HRNZ Office or Alexandra Park, or email admin@hrnz.co.nz for more details

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