Runner by runner : The Hydroflow NZ Country Championship Final

Friday's $100,000 Hydroflow NZ Country Championship Final at Addington brings form lines from all over the country.

Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly has brought stablemates Beta Prepare and Rough And Ready south while the southern challengers includes the Nathan Williamson-trained duo of Always Dreams and Dreams Are Free.

Then there's the Canterbury-based contenders like the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained stablemates It's Tough and Bruntwood Brigade.

With the backmarkers off 30 metres the race promises to be tactical and a true staying test over 3200 metres. 

When the TAB market opened the top five were : It's Tough ($2.80), Bruntwood Brigade ($5.50), Iron Brigade and Dreams Are Free ($6) and Franco Sinatra ($9).

But is it that cut and dried?

Three expert selectors Trackside presenters Brittany Graham and Greg O'Connor and Form Analyst Matt Smith provide their thoughts on the 14 runners. 

1 Beta Prepare (Arna Donnelly)

Brittany : Big improver in the last 12 months. Swift beginning helped him to lead all the way a few starts ago. Biggest test to date. 
Greg : BOP Cup winner early April. Just ok since but can step and run along.
Matt : Fair efforts since BOP Cup win in early April. First4s preferred off the front.

2 Hacksaw Ridge (Ricky Gutsell) 

Britt: Has let himself down with poor manners recently. All but one of his 6 career wins on grass tracks although he is one of the rare runners proven over two miles when winning the Westport Cup.
Greg : Westport and Cromwell Cup winner who is a tough stayer. Placed on the course in South Of Waitaki.
Matt : Errors in his last 3 starts, but good late at Ascot Park. Needs best manners.

3 Rough And Ready (Arna Donnelly) 

Britt : Booked his trip with a last start win off 20metres at Manawatu. Tough task but a grand old campaigner who has now won 23 races.
Greg : Wairarapa, Cambridge Xmas and last start Manawatu Cup winner. Yet to place in five race track starts.
Matt : Continued his love affair with Manawatu 30 Apr. Harder here, but can surprise.

4 Iron Brigade (Steve and Amanda Telfer) 10m

Brittany : Loving life in the Stonewall Southern barn with three wins from his five outings including a career PB in last week's Uncut Gems. Good standing start beginner who is high on confidence and on an upward trend.
Greg : Super win in Uncut Gem over genuine good horse. Off handicaps looks hardest to beat.
Matt : Horse on the way up judging by last week's win. Can step and play a major part.

5 Always Dreaming (Nathan Williamson) 10m

Brittany : Hasn’t made the sharpest of beginnings recently, which equated to doing extra work last time out in Southern Cups Final. Only a fairly fresh four-year-old at this level.
Greg : Nathan Williamson trained 4YO. Gore and Wairio Cup winner fifth in Southern Final.
Matt : Didn't help his cause early in last two. Fair returns here. Top 3/4 option. 

6 Da Vinci (Craig Ferguson) 10m

Brittany : Midfield in four runs back this campaign coming off 20 metre handicaps. Now over two years since his last win.
Greg : Hasn't won in more than two years but is capable on his day.
Matt : Not a mile away in four starts back but last won in 2024. Combos crumbs. 

7 Bruntwood Brigade (Robert and Jenna Dunn) 10m

Brittany : The winner of a remarkable eight races this season already. Very brave last week after burning hard early, being left parked and only going down by two lengths in quick time. Solid stayer who keeps battling away, highlighted in his Mt Hutt Cup win over 3000m.
Greg : Find of the spring winning six races since February. Fourth in Uncut Gem last week. Tough and brave.
Matt :  Won 8 in 2026 and gets into this race well enough. Sure to have supporters.

8 Dreams Are Free (Nathan Williamson) 20m 

Brittany : Near on perfect campaign, highlighted by an impressive Southern Cups Final win last start after being held up badly. This standing start caper is still a work in progress and the inside of 20metres could prove a challenge.
Greg : Super wins in Winton and Southern Final. Classy individual, best of Southern hopes.
Matt : Mojo well and truly returned in April. Slips back to 20m mark, but keep safe. 

9 Wag Star (Craig Ferguson) 20m

Brittany : A model of consistency and has been kept fresh recently. Tried and true staying type with three starts over the distance for a win and a placing.
Greg : Gore Summer Cup winner who is racing very consistently. Needs the right run but can figure in the finish.
Matt : Three-time winner here chased Dreams Are Free at Ascot Park. Add to trifectas. 

10 The Big Lebowksi (Brett Gray) 20m

Brittany : Back-to-back grass track wins earlier this year but has struggled since. Possesses a wonderful Addington record with two wins from four attempts including the Junior FFA on Cup Day 2024.
Greg : Former Junior FFA winner (2024), Riverton and Waikouaiti Cup winner.
Matt : Struggling to recapture Waikouaiti Cup-winning form. Work to do off 20m.

11 American Me (Brent and Tim White) 20m

Brittany : Most established pacer in this year’s final as a Group 1 winner, and fourth placegetter in the 2023 New Zealand Trotting Cup. He is also the most experienced stayer with seven starts over two miles. Despite being older, his experience shouldn’t be discounted.
Greg : Stratford and Taupo Summer Cup winner. Former Group One winner and fourth in the 2023 NZ Cup. Needs luck off 20m.
Matt : Wily old campaigner who drops back from taking on Marketplace. First4s.

12 Smoke On The Water (Matt Purvis) 30m

Brittany : Freshened and back to the trials after chasing home Got The Chocolates at his last few. Used to chasing off big handicaps albeit his qualification points for this final came mainly on grass tracks.
Greg : Grand staying type who won both the Reefton and Marlborough Cups. Will enjoy 3200m more than most.
Matt : Trial winner off 30m since being outgunned in early April. Trifectas off 30m.

13 It's Tough (Robert and Jenna Dunn) 30m

Brittany : Beautifully-placed to win 11 races in this extended prep stretching back to August. Only tasting defeat twice this year at the hands of Got The Chocolates and Marketplace. Continues to step up and show versatility as well as being a great standing start beginner. 30 metre handicap is an obvious hurdle, but his recent dominance of the rivals he meets here warrants it.
Greg : Find of the series who was brave second behind Marketplace in Superstars. Has won four Country Cups. 30m might not stop.
Matt : Caught the eye behind Marketplace 08 May. 30m no worries. Can out-tough them. 

14 Franco Sinatra (Cran and Chrissie Dalgety) 30m 

Brittany : Third behind Marketplace and It's Tough here a fortnight ago to ready him for this grand final. Addington specialist with a remarkable 12 wins to his name and is tough as teak. One from one over two miles when recording a 3.59.9 winning the Wyndham Cup off this mark.
Greg : Junior FFA winner in Nov. Wyndham Cup winner who is definitely not out of it.
Matt : Good third to Marketplace May 8. Third on April 19 a good guide to this. In the mix. 

First Four Home :

Brittany: : 13 It's Tough, 7 Bruntwood Brigade, 14 Franco Sinatra, 4 Iron Brigade 
Greg : 4 Iron Brigade, 13 It's Tough, 8 Dreams Are Free, 7 Bruntwood Brigade  
Matt : 13 It's Tough, 8 Dreams Are Free, 7 Bruntwood Brigade and 4 Iron Brigade.

What : The $100,000 Listed Hydroflow NZ Country Championship Final
When : Race 9 : 9:07pm
Where : Addington Raceway
Who : R50-120 Special Handicap (3200m)

To qualify for the Final horses had to have at least three starts in qualifying races.  

More than 50 horses met the eligibility criteria, with field selection  determined by points accrued in the respective races.  

2026 will see the fifth running of the Championship.

The previous four winners are :

2025 Betterthancash
2024 Charlie Brown
2023 Mighty Looee (pictured above)
2022 The Falcon 

To see the field for the $100,000 Listed Hydroflow NZ Country Championship Final click here