NZ Cup Day - Race by Race

Race 13 : First Direct Taxis Mobile Pace $20,000 1980m

A profitable day had the perfect finish for Mark Purdon. In the last of the day the NZ Cup-winning driver piloted favourite Riveered to a popular victory though the horse had to do it tough. It was three wide for a time before edging past Five Star General in the shadows of the finishing post.  Riveered had been in many people’s multis, the Bettor’s Delight three-year-old paying just $1.90 and $1.50. Five Star General was game in finishing second ($2.40) and Johnny Morrison got outsider Standout home for third ($11.80). The 2:13:12 trifecta paid $382.50.  

Cup day is over, bring on Show day and the Majestic Son Dominion Handicap Trot.

Race 12 : Garrards Horse and Hound Trot 2600m $25,000

Race 12 was seen as one of the toughest of the day to pick, and it threw up the day’s biggest roughie. Bryan Boru was the favourite for John Dunn. But it was She’s Allthe Craze, paying $38.10 and $9.10,  that got the perfect trail behind the pace-setting Idle Stuartia only to get home for driver Jessica Young-Grant and veteran trainer Bruce Negus. Idle Stuartia  ($3.10) held on for second for driver Blair Orange while Gold Chain continued Bob Butt’s good day, finishing third at $7.   The 5:7:17 trifecta paid $9369.

Race 11 : IRT New Zealand Cup Group 1 3200m $540,000

Self Assured has again shown what a superstar he is with an emphatic victory in the IRT New Zealand Cup. After being tardy away from standing starts of late Mark Purdon got the cleanest of getaways to go straight into the trail, behind stablemate Ashley Locaz. In contrast great northern hope Copy That didn’t step from one and found himself at the tail of the field. That was a scenario that no-one saw coming. Stablemate Spankem then rounded the field to take the lead, giving Purdon the perfect run. As the passing lane loomed it was a matter of when not if Self Assured would take over.  To make it the perfect result it was an All Stars trifecta  of Self Assured (Purdon), Spankem (Natalie Rasmussen)  and Ashley Locaz (Tim Williams). Self Assured paid $4.20 and $1.80, Spankem $1.50, Ashley Locaz $4.70. The 11:15:12 trifecta paid $136.20.  It was the second time Spankem’s finished second, last year he was runner up to Cruz Bromac. It was Self Assured’s 14^th win in 22 starts. It was the All Stars’ sixth New Zealand Cup in seven years. It’s Mark Purdon’s sixth New Zealand Cup as a driver, and his eighth as a trainer. Self Assured's winning time was 3:55.2, his winning margin 3 1/2 lengths.

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Race 10 : Avon City Ford Mobile Pace $25,000 1980m

Ricky May returned to the winner’s circle for the first time on Cup day in race 10. Cheezel, trained by Regan Todd, got a sweet passage in the trail and then exploded home. Favourite A Taste of Honey had taken the field to the final corner and held on gamely for second as Cheezel made his winning move. It’s May’s first New Zealand Cup since he very nearly lost his life at Omakau in the New Year.  May, a seven time New Zealand Cup winner, collapsed to the track and had to be revived. Cheezel’s win was a timely change of fortune after a string of unlucky performances.  Cheezel paid $9.90 and $3.10 with A taste of Honey at $1.60 and Laver $3.40. The 2:4:11 trifecta paid $337.80.

Race 9 : Hornby Liquor Centre Mobile Pace $25,000 1980m

The Barry Purdon – Scott Phelan trained Bad to the Bone had been talked up by many leading into this race. And the four-year-old, trained at Clevedon,  did not disappoint.  Driven by Zachary Butcher, Bad to the Bone was pushed hard to make the lead and then staunchly withheld all challenges. The win gave North Island stables their first winner for the day. Belmont Major ($2.40) was second for Bob Butt, with Steel the Show third ($2.50). The 6:3:13 trifecta paid $82.80.

Race 8 : Woodlands Stud Series’ Stakes Final Mobile 1980m $150,000

The All Stars clinched their seventh Sires’ Stakes victory in a row with It’s All About Faith (Mark Purdon) capitalising on a lovely trip to win one of the day’s most eagerly anticipated races. It was seen as a match race between It’s About faith and Krug but Krug didn’t finish off the race after being in the one-one. He finished fourth. BD Joe for Steve and Amanda Telfer speared out from the gate to take the lead and looked likely until the final stages when Mark Purdon made his move.  Purdon’s All Stars stables have dominated this race in recent years, winning the last six with horses like Lazarus and Ultimate Sniper. It’s All About Faith’s stablemate Aladdin finishing third ($5.20). It’s All About Faith paid $2.40 and $1.30, with BD Joe $2.40. The 1:4:2 trifecta paid $199.20.

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Race 7 : Livamol NZ Trotting FFA Mobile Trot (Group 1) $95,000 1980m

After running second in his last four starts Heavyweight Hero did one better when it really mattered, winning the Group One Trotting Free For All. The son of Muscle Mass was three back for driver-trainer Bob Butt only for the gaps to open and he scooted down the passing lane to win. Muscle Mountain had loomed as a real threat only to finish third, with Cracker Hill second after Brad Williamson opted to not take passing lane.  That saw Heavyweight Hero get the perfect run. The pace setting favourite Majestic Man faded to fifth.   Heavyweight Hero paid $11.60 and $2.70, with Cracker Hill $1.40 and Muscle Mountain $1.60. The 3:12:5  trifecta paid $136.50.  

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Race 6 : Mitre 10 Mobile Pace 1980m

Champion trainer Robert Dunn had the three favourites in race 6, with Above N Beyond the punters’ elect but it was Mossman, trained by Graham Court and driven by Sheree Tomlinson, who got the perfect trip in the trail and then used the passing lane to win at odds of nearly 30-to-one.  It was another  Dunn runner Mighty Looee that did a power of work in finishing second for driver Korbyn Newman ($2.10).  Chiller Bay was third ($4.40) for David Butcher. Mossman, by three-time New Zealand Cup champion Terror To Love,  paid $23.90 and $6.80. The 3:14:10 trifecta paid $2206.90. 

Race 5 : Dunstan Horsefeeds Junior FFA Mobile Pace - Group 3  2600m

The Williamsons made it three from five races in the Junior Free For All with Matty and Nathan’s brother Brad Williamson doing the honours this time on southern visitor Vintage Cheddar. Fabrizio, who had shortened from $15 to $5, set a hot pace with Wild Excuse circling the field from her poor draw to keep the pressure on. It was set up for a swooper and it was the Alister Black- trained son of Betterthancheddar that prevailed from a long way back, paying $9.20 and $2.70. On the Cards finished second for Zachary Butcher ($3.30), and That Alexander Guy (Robbie Close, $8.30) was third. The 8:9:11 trifecta paid $1660.60. The winning time was  3:08.30.

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Race 4 : Nevele R Fillies Series Mobile Pace – Group 1 1980m

The first Group One of Cup Day and everyone’s pick Amazing Dream was at prohibitive odds to win, despite drawing nine. But this was no walk in the park. The superstar was forced four wide at the 1000 metre mark. Natalie Rasmussen pressed on to face the breeze at the 600 and then managed to run down the pace-setting Need You Know and John Dunn. It was Amazing Dream’s sixth Group One. She paid $1.40 and $1.00. After the race Rasmussen said “she never thought it was going to be easy from the draw, and she was tired but she really wanted to win.”   It was Amazing Dream’s 15^th win in 23 starts. Need You Know ($1.60) held on for second with Stylish Memphis third ($1.80). The all Bettor’s Delight  trifecta (9:5:6) paid just $9.90.

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Race 3 : Hydroflow Handicap Trot 3200m @ 12.55pm

Race 3 and another Williamson victory. This time it was Nathan Williamson and his five-year-old Andy Hall who capitalised on a beautiful one-one trip to outlast the pace-making Missalyssa. Blair Orange had driven a confident race on Missalyssa and went clear turning for home. But Andy Hall had plenty in reserve. Paying $9.50 and $3.20, it was his third win in seven career starts. The Player ran home well for John Dunn to be second ($2.30) and Missalyssa held on for third ($5.60). Favourite Andoverlov broke with around 800 to go, losing all chance.    The 3:5:9 trifecta paid $1502.10. Nathan's brother Matty won the first race on Humble Ladd, trained by their father Phil. 

Race 2 : Bushbuck Cup Day Maiden Mobile Pace 1980m @ 12.25

There will be few easier winners on Cup day than Castelo De Vide in race 2 for trainer Darren Keast and driver Bob Butt. The Bettor’s Delight three-year-old was all the rage with punters after trialling brilliantly and he duly delivered, paying $1.70. After getting a good cart up Castelo De Vide gave nothing else a chance, with several runners ruled out of contention with a squirmish a lap out from home. It was win one at career start number three.

Evangalista battled on for second ($2.80) and Magic Mike was  third ($2.10). The 11:4:2 trifecta paid $61.80. Winners time : 2:24.8. 

Race 1 : Welcome to the IRT NZ Trotting Cup Handicap Trot 2600m @ 11.55

Favourite  Humble Ladd has got punters off to a good start on Cup day.  Starting off the backmark (10 metres) Matty Williamson bided his time initially as Majestic Hurricane (Blair Orange) stepped well and went to the front. With just over a lap to go Williamson made his move, cruising to the top. From there the $3.30 favourite dominated. Doff Your Cap launched a bid before finishing fourth, with Madeline Stowe ($9.70) and Majestic Hurricane ($5.20) filling the minors. The 11:5:9 trifecta paying $1,487.60.