Australians quick off the mark for NZ Cup

Nominations have only just opened and already two Australian visitors could be involved in the IRT New Zealand Cup.

Multiple Group 1 winner Spirit of St Louis and Loyalist have both been nominated for the country's premier race, at Addington on Tuesday, November 14.

Spirit Of St Louis, who's part owned by well known racing personality Trevor Casey and Otago trainer Graeme Anderson, has long been a proven top level performer and has 26 wins from 62 starts.

The Sweet Lou gelding had eight wins from 19 starts in this country for Anderson before heading off across the Tasman in 2021.

He's raced in plenty of Grand Circuit races across the Tasman but never started in a New Zealand Cup before.

After winning four from 56 starts Loyalist left these shores in August last year.

Now under the care of two-time Inter-Dominion-winning trainer Jason Grimson the Bettor's Delight six-year-old has won 11 races, the latest being the Redcliffe Gold Cup in Queensland on June 24.

Nominations for the IRT New Zealand Cup, the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and the Graphite Developments Ltd/Glenys and Philip Kennard Show Day Futurity pace only opened officially this week.