Aussies arrive en masse for Cup week raid

Aussies have a spring in their step heading in the strongest harness racing raid on New Zealand’s harness riches in many years.

The smiles on their faces grew after all four Aussies – Minos (one), Kingman (four), Swayzee (six) and Leap To Fame (eight) – drew the front row in the Go Media NZ Cup.

It assures Australia of market domination in the iconic race, and it will be a big surprise if the trophy doesn’t go back across the ditch.

Although Minos would need to improve plenty from his Kaikoura showing, the other trio looked primed. More on them soon.

The quartet in the Cup are the backbone of what could be an 14-horse Aussie assault on a string of feature NZ races over the next few weeks.

It all starts with Chantal Turpin’s exciting young filly Raffie Jay in tomorrow night’s Group 1 NZ Trotting Oaks.

While Duchess Maria is a deserved favourite, Raffie Jay has just kept improving in Queensland and is sure to make her presence felt.

Then we got to Cup Day where Raffie Jay’s superstar stablemate Gus returns to the scene of his greatest triumph yet to defend his crown in the Group 1 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot.

Yes, Gus has since won the Brisbane Inter Dominion, but the way he exploded into the big league winning last year’s Dominion remains his defining moment.

Although Gus the standout, Australia has Victorian pair Gotfeelingsyouknow and Rockinwithattitude in the Dominion, too.

Gotfeelingsyouknow ran a terrific second to Gus in the Brisbane Inter Dominion final and will relish the 3200m, while Rockinwithattitude will need to get her manners right after making very uncharacteristic mistakes at her past two starts.

Also on Cup Day, Ripples will run in the Group 1 Nevele R final and The Queens Gambit is second emergency in the same race.

On Show Day, the awesome Captains Mistress will follow up from her Kaikoura Cup domination in the Group 1 NZ Pacing free-for-all.

Huge interest will be around whether Leap To Fame or Kingman back-up from the Cup against her.

What a dream a rematch between Captains Mistress and Leap To Fame would be with the scoreline at 1-1.

Providing they all come through the Dominion well, Gus, Gotfeelingsyouknow and Rockinwithattitude will back-up in the $100,000 NZ Trotting free-for-all on the Friday.

Also on Show Day, emerging Victorian three-year-old Luvtobeuptome will step out for a lead-up run ahead of the Group 1 NZ Derby a week later.

Trainer Brent Lilley will take his multiple Group 1 winner Kyvalley Ray back across for the Group 1 NZ Trotting Derby on November 20 despite his indifferent form and manners in Australia this campaign.

If she runs well in the Trotting Oaks, Raffie Jay is expected to back-up in the Trotting Derby.

Luvetobeuptome will be in the NZ Pacing Derby and Ripples and The Queens Gambit are expected in the NZ Pacing Oaks.

The watch is on star NSW filly Ark Sea, who could also tackle the NZ Pacing Oaks.

That will depend on whether she lands a slot in the $A1.5 million TAB Eureka in the next week or so.

 

by Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing New Zealand