IRT New Zealand Cup Day - Race by Race

IRT New Zealand Cup day at Addington - Race by Race 

Race 1 : SAUNDERS ROBINSON BROWN HANDICAP TROT

The opening race of the day and a trot over 3200m is always a tricky proposition. Masterly started a very warm order ($2.50) but broke at the start and played no significant part, with punters rocked by Cody Banner making a big move at the 600m and going to win by trainer Ricky Allen and driver Matty Williamson. He paid $41.20 and $14.40. Zsa Zoe and Muscle Bank completed a $38,416.80 trifecta. It was Cody Banner's ninth win in his 98th start.

Race 2 : HYDROFLOW MOBILE PACE

Favourite backers were rewarded in the second with Charlie Brown producing a big finish to pip a very game Fernetti and Jolimont who ripped home out wide to get third. Carrero Rapido and then stablemate Luvstruck led the field only for Fernetti and Charlie Brown to make their moves, with Charlie Brown, driven by John Dunn, securing his fifth win in 28 starts. Charlie Brown paid $3.50, with Fernetti paying $4.70 for the place.

Race 3 : MITRE 10 HANDICAP TROT

The country's top driver Blair Orange opened his account on IRT New Zealand Cup day when he took out race 3 with a powerful front-running drive with the Paul Nairn-trained Outamyway. Stablemate Confessional started a warm favourite but galloped while in the trail with a lap to go. Outamyway just kept trucking out in the lead with Unico Vacanza and Andy Hall trying hard to peg him back but having to settle for second and third. It was the dual-gaited Outamyway's seventh trotting win in 41 starts. Outamyway paid $5.90 for the win.

Race 4 : GARRARD'S PACE 

Paying $75.90 and $13.60 Kingsdown Atom took out race 4 for trainer-driver John Morrison, his first training success on racing's biggest day. It was a messy race with favourite Mandalay Bay prompting a squirmish mid race. Through it all Kingsdown Atom was able to get a nice run into the race and used the passing lane to get the honours. It was Kingsdown Atom's eighth win in 107 starts. An inquiry was held with 4th Shepherd's Delight vs 2nd Mandalay Bay but there was no change to places.

Race 5 : TAB JUNIOR FREE-FOR-ALL MOBILE PACE (G3)

With win 11 from 13 starts Don't Stop Dreaming justified his favouritism with a powerhouse win. Drawn awkwardly, the Bettor's Delight three-year-old caused a few ripples through Addington when he bobbled momentarily soon after the start but driver Mark Purdon steadied him before heading to the front. From there it was game over with Cya Art finishing strongly into second and Merlin back in a very distant third place. Don't Stop Dreaming paid $2 for the win.  

Race 6 : K B ELECTRICS MOBILE PACE

Mark Purdon went back to back with Franco Indie producing a telling burst to win race 6. Wag Star was the all the rage and led early from his wide draw before Coney Island Lou took over, putting Wag Star into the trail. But the fave couldn't capitalise as Franco Indie got an economical run back on the fence before making his move. It was number 7 (from 23 starts). He paid $10.80 for the win. Wag Star held on for second, ahead of Sooner The Bettor.

Race 7 : NEVELE R '50 YEARS OF SUCCESS' FNL MBL PACE (G1)

The first of the day's Group 1s with Millwood Nike, a $2 favourite, gunning for win number 16 in a row, against another unbeaten filly in Mantra Blue. In the end it was just another romp for the super filly as Mark Purdon made it three wins in a row for the afternoon. At one stage Millwood Nike was four wide but never looked in danger as she powered past her rivals to win comfortably. It was a one impressive performance! Mantra Blue was second, ahead of Advance Party, paying $11.80 for the place. 

Race 8 : HORNBY LIQUOR CENTRE WORTHY QUEEN HCP TROT (G3)

Rowe Cup winner Love N The Port looked like a sure thing as soon as he got to the lead mid race. And that's how it turned out as Matty Williamson rated his horse perfectly out front. Resolve charged home for second with I Dream Of Jeannie third. It was trainer Phil Willliamson's second success in the race in as many years after winning with Majestic Man last year. Love N The Port paid $5.20. It was his ninth win in 39 starts. It's Matty Williamson's second win for the day after his victory with Cody Banner in the first. 

Race 9 : WOODLANDS STUD SIRES STAKES FNL MBL PACE (G1)

Purdon Racing's day only got better in the second Group 1 of the day, with a stable trifecta spearheaded by an amazing performance by winner Chase A Dream. The Captaintreacherous two-year-old looked seemingly only running for the minors and at one stage was 25 lengths off the lead. But when driver Olivia Thornley asked him to go he rattled home to just pip stablemates We Walk By Faith and Major Hot. It was a performance that had the commentators struggling for superlatives, with Thornley saying post race - "he is absolutely amazing, I honestly didn't think Id won. I'm so thrilled." The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained trifecta paid $283.10. 

Race 10 : AVON CITY FORD TROT

The Ken Barron-trained Create Time made it two wins from two starts. The winning of the race was the mid race move made by driver Blair Orange to sit parked outside the pace-setting What The Bell. The three-year-old son of Creatine was just too strong over the final stages, paying $8.90 and $2.90. What The Bell held on for second, with Sunny Louis third. Favourite Elizabeth Hill was a late scratching. 

Race 11 : IRT NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP PACE (G1)

The Aussies take the IRT New Zealand Cup with Australian visitor Swayzee proving too strong for Kiwi champion Akuta in the biggest race of them all. After a safe start driver Cameron Hart was aggressive with Swayzee and mid race he made his move to take up the running. Akuta meanwhile was three wide for a time before going around to sit parked outside his trans-Tasman rival and while he threatened turning for home Swayzee always held the ascendancy. Beach Ball rallied well for third with American Me fourth. It was trainer Jason Grimson and Hart's first New Zealand Cup after the combo finished second last year with Majestic Cruiser. Swayzee paid $2.60. The winning time was 3:56.5. Post race Grimson said "it was a good run, a good drive and he was too good."  

Race 12 : GOLD BAND TAXIS MOBILE PACE

The Purdon's huge day had the perfect finish with Mon Lancome winning her third race in a row. It completed a Cup day treble for Blair Orange after his earlier wins with Create Time and Outamyway. Purdon Racing (All Stars) had five winners on the day with Mark Purdon driving three (Don't Stop Dreaming, Franco Indie and Millwood Nike) and Chase A Dream (Olivia Thornley) and Mon Lancome (Blair Orange). Mon Lancome was pressed into the lead by Orange and was just too good in repelling late challenges from Dalton Shard and Watermelon Sugar. Mon Lancome paid $5.30.

The $100,000 guaranteed Pick 6 paid $7,288.60.