Stars aligning for Invercargill Cup

By Jonny Turner 

Just over three weeks out, the Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup is set to host its best-ever field. 

The Invercargill Harness Racing Club is gearing up to host the 99th edition of their annual feature and its third running at Group 1 level on Friday, December 20. 

The elevation of the status of the Invercargill Cup has had an immediate impact, with bumper crowds flocking to Ascot Park in the last two years to cheer on New Zealand’s elite-level pacers.

As strong as the 2022 and 2023 Invercargill Cup fields have been, the 2024 edition is shaping up to be even better.

The camps behind a host of New Zealand’s best pacers have declared they intend to be at Ascot Park on December 20, should their horses continue to be fit and ready to compete.

Headlining the incoming wave is New Zealand Cup runner-up Don’t Stop Dreaming.

Trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon have opted to head south with their brilliant four-year-old, rather than heading north to the Group 1 Auckland Cup. This year’s moving of the Auckland Cup back to its original New Year’s Eve date had the potential to lure plenty of open-class stars away from the Invercargill Cup, but that does not seem to be the case so far.

New Zealand Cup third-placegetter Republican Party will also be aimed at the southern feature by trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety.

Mo’unga and trainer Regan Todd have the Invercargill Cup firmly on their radars following the pacer’s big New Zealand Cup sixth placing after missing away.

Defending champion American Me is also on track to head south to defend his Invercargill Cup title for trainers Brent and Tim White while Robert and Jenna Dunn have Dalton Shard and Charlie Brown aimed at the race and Jonny Cox has Pinseeker in line for an Invercargill Cup start, providing he comes through his first Group 1 attempt in the newly minted Christian Cullen at Addington on Friday, December 6.  

Southern star Wag Star is in the same spot, he will take on the Group 1 Christian Cullen before his Invercargill Cup tilt. His stablemate Da Vinci will also be aimed at the 2700m feature by Craig Ferguson.

Smoke On The Water is on the maybe list for the Invercargill Cup with the pacer to head to the Christian Cullen before trainer Matt Purvis decides on a trip south, or an Auckland Cup carnival campaign. 

Ascot Park’s big day is a possibility for Franco Marek, who races in colours dedicated to well-known Southlander, the late Blair Vining, with trainer Greg Manson assessing his options after Sunday’s Green Mile at Methven. 

One Change is also on track for an Invercargill Cup start following the grass track sprint.