Three more make IRT NZ Trotting Cup field

Tact McLeod, Franco Marek and Alta Meteor have all booked places in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington on Tuesday, November 12.

The trio filled the top three places in the Lamb and Hayward Canterbury Classic, sealing their spots in the country's biggest race.

It was action packed from the start with Beach Ball and B D Joe botching the start and the well favoured Republican Party also slow to get underway.

Franco Marek and Alta Meteor were up on the pace before Who's Delight went around the field and to the lead with a lap to go. Franco Sinatra with stablemate Republican Party on its back made their bid but it was Tact McLeod who in the words of commentator Matt Cross "went whoosh" with 200 to go.

The southerner left the rest of the field to it as he cleared out to win comfortably for driver Sam Ottley.

Though officially trained by Winton's Trevor Proctor Tact McLeod has been with Mark Jones while based in Canterbury. He's now won his last two at Addington and seven from 17 overall.

Despite his last start win he still went out at $16 in tonight's Group 2. Both Franco Marek and Alta Meteor were fresh up. Charlie Brown, who's had a number of unlucky runs in the lead up races to the Cup, was again denied, finishing strongly to be fourth.