Dalton Shard into IRT NZ Trotting Cup

Dalton Shard has booked himself a place in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 12.

Tonight the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained pacer won the night's feature race, the Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington and automatically qualified for the country's biggest race.

Driven by Robbie Close, Dalton Shard had a great run on the fence before being presented 400 metres from home and running down the pace-making favourite Macandrew Aviator. Dalton Shard paid $16.10 for the win.

The Dunns produced the quinella with Charlie Brown finishing second ahead of Macandrew Aviator with another Dunn runner Double Time running fourth.

Driven by John Dunn, Charlie Brown started a $5 favourite, just ahead of Macandrew Aviator and Ohoka Connor.

The latter, off 10 metres, looped the field to sit parked and then faded to finish fifth in an encouraging resumption.

Dalton Shard, a four-year-old Always B Miki gelding, has now won eight from 36 starts. He was fresh up, with his last start being a nose second to stablemate Charlie Brown at Addington in May.