Methven Cup - 10 Fun Facts

What : Alabar Methven Cup
Status : Group 3 
Stake : $40,000
When : 4.27pm, Sunday, October 4
Where : Mt Harding 
First race : 11.55am

To mark what promises to be big day at Mt Harding here are 10 Fun Facts relating to Methven Cup day  

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

1. Next year marks the Methven Cup centenary, it was first run in 1927 and won by Colene Pointer over two miles (3200m). But it has not been held every year. For instance during WWII there were no Cups in 1942 and 43 but there were two champions in 1944 with Dianus and Festivity. 

2. Many drivers have gone back-to-back in the Methven Cup including Wes Butt, Colin DeFilippi and Bob Young but the only driver to have had three wins in a row is Jack Smolenski with Arapaho, Blackbeard and Yankeee Clipper between 1970-72. 

3. Tim Williams is vying for his fourth Methven Cup after wins with Mighty Looee (2024), Chase Auckland (2019) and Smolda (2016). On Sunday he'll drive the in-form and highly-rated JT Boe for Steve and Amanda Telfer. Two-time winner Mark Purdon (Fly Like An Eagle - 2012 and Ohoka Dallas - 2010) is also back ,driving another contender in Rubira for son Nathan. 

4. The Cup changed to its present distance of 3000 metres in 2000 with the exception of Cranbourne winning over 2850 metres in 2021. The fastest 3000 metre time was Spankem's win in 2020. He started off 30 metres, with his winning time 3:47.3. In contrast the winning time in heavy conditions last year was 4:25.5.

5. The McKendrys are a highly-respected and successful Mid Canterbury racing family and two McKendrys have won the Methven Cup. Maurice McKendry, New Zealand's second most successful driver ever with 3457 wins, won with Tyler Foulden in 1997 while relative Gladdy McKendry took out the 1951 Cup with Burns Night, who also won the 1949 New Zealand Derby. Maurice Mac was born and grew up in Methven before heading north and establishing himself as an all-time great while Gladdy died in 1985, aged 86. 

6. No horse has won two Methven Cups in a row though Eastwood Jaunty and George Shand were two-time winners in 2001 and 2003. Another "Jaunty" winner was Jaunty Hanover in 1978.

7. The first three-year-old to win the Methven Cup was Arethusa who win 4:41.6 for the legendary Maurice "The Maestro" Holmes in 1930.

8. Only three female drivers have taken out the Methven Cup with six wins in all. Sarah O'Reilly won with American Me in 2023, Natalie Rasmussen with Spankem (2020), Cruz Bromac (2018) , Messini (2015) and Vi Et Animo (2011) and Jo Herbert with Chloe Hanover (2000). O'Reilly, who lives just down the road in Ashburton, is the only female in this year's race. She'll drive Esmeralda for her father Gerard O'Reilly.  

9. This year's field is a very open race with JT Boe the $4.20 favourite ahead of Renegade, for the father-son training-driving combo of Brendon and Seth Hill, at $4.40. To show just how an open it is there are six runners in the 11=horse field paying $10 or less in the fixed odds market. Apart from the Methven Cup the day's other feature is the $25,000 Yabby Dams Fillies and Mares Handicap Trot (4.56pm). Included in the big and open field is super mare Buffy Northstains who has won her last two starts for trainer Bruce Negus and has a remarkable career record of 25 wins and nearly $300,00 in stakes. Not bad for a horse that was purchased as a weanling for $5000.

10. There'll be a guaranteed $10,000 First 4 for Sunday's Alabar Methven Cup (Race 10) at 4.27pm

To see the Methven fields click here