Aardiebythehill goes back-to-back in Ordeal Cup

Thanks to a masterful drive from Blair Orange, Aardiebythehill has secured a place in the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Tuesday, November 12.

The defending champion took out the Group 3 Hickman Family Ordeal Trotting Cup Handicap Trot at Addington Raceway tonight.

Trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn, Aardiebythehill was three back the fence, then peeled out at the home turn and wore down Tectonic and Love N The Port, who filled the minor placings.

Despite winning the race last year and being driven by the country's leading driver, Aardiebythehill was not fancied in the market, paying $22 for the win.

Stablemates Mighty Logan and Sunnys Sister were the two favourites, with Mighty Logan breaking at the start and then launching while Sunnys Sister loomed up but couldn't finish off.

With the Ordeal Cup being a qualifier for the Dominion, Aardiebythehill is guaranteed a place in the big race on IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington on the second Tuesday of November.

It was Orange's first win in the Ordeal Cup since Cyclone U Bolt in 2013.

In the night's feature pace it was deja vu for another Dunn runner in Dalton Shard.

Driven by Robbie Close, Dalton Shard got the perfect run three back the fence and then went into the passing lane to take out the Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup to repeat his success in the Maurice Holmes Vase last month.

In fact it was exactly the same trifecta with stablemate Charlie Brown rocketing home for second, and Macandrew Aviator third.

The winner of the race is an automatic qualifier for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway, though Dalton Shard had booked his place with his win in the Maurice Holmes Vase.

The highly-favoured Telfer-trained pair of Ohoka Connor and B D Joe both broke at the start, losing a lot of ground though Ohoka Connor was very impressive in finishing strongly into fourth.