Bettor’s Delight leads NZ Cup winning sires

The sensational win of Australian champion Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) in the $800,000 NZ Trotting Cup at Addington has cemented Bettor’s Delight’s standing as the most successful sire in the history of the iconic race.

The Woodlands Stud flagship, who sired the quinella pair in this year’s Cup, has left six winners of the NZ’s holy grail in Self Assured (2020), Thefixer (2018), Lazarus (2016 and 2017), Arden Rooney (2015), Adore Me (2014) and now Leap To Fame.

Vance Hanover is the second most successful stallion in Cup history with four winners. They are Iraklis (1997), Il Vicolo (1995 and 1996), Chokin (1993) and Christopher Vance (1991).

Johnny Globe, who won the Cup himself in 1954, Rothschild, U Scott and Wrack each sired three NZ Cup winners.

Johnny Globe left the 1972 winner Globe Bay, Spry (1969) and Lordship (1962 and 1966), Rothschild’s Cup winners were Ravenschild (1913), Albert H (1912) and Belmont M (1906), U Scott sired Cairnbrae (1964), Van Dieman (1951) and Highland Fling (1947 and 1948), while Wrack left Bronze Eagle (1944), Indianapolis (1934, 1935 and 1936) and Wrackler (1930).

Leap To Fame traces to the family founded by the Prince Imperial mare Eastern Lady and is the third NZ Cup winner belonging to it, joining Swayzee (2023 and 2024) and Integrity (1946).

Pride Of Lincoln remains the No. 1 source of NZ Cup winners with five – Christian Cullen (1998), who himself sired a Cup winner Mainland Banner (2005), Bee Bee Cee (1994), Invicta (1961), Author Dillon (1918) and Wildwood Junior (1909 and 1910).

The noted matrons Dairy Maid, Fanny Fern, Lady Clare and Regina all were responsible for four Cup champions.

Dairy Maid’s Cup winning descendants were Kingman (2025), Monkey King (2009 and 2010), Iraklis (1997) and Camelot (1984), Fanny Fern (Neroship 1990, Humphrey 1968, Wrackler 1930 and Trix Pointer 1919), Lady Clare, who won the Cup herself in 1911, was the foundation mare of the 2021 and 2022 Cup winner Copy That, Christopher Vance (1991) and Luxury Liner (1988), while Regina was the ancestress of Arden Rooney (2015), Il Vicolo (1995 and 1996), Trusty Scot (1978) and Garry Dillon (1965).

The back-to-back triumphs of the NZ bred, Queensland trained Gus in the $400,000 Dominion Handicap gave his sire Majestic Son his sixth winner in the past seven runnings of the Group 1 trotting feature. The Alabar Bloodstock stallion left earlier winners in Oscar Bonavena (2023) and Sundee’s Son (2020, 2021 and 2022).

Sundon is the most successful sire in Dominion history with seven winners. They were Marcoola (2018), Amaretto Sun (2017), Master Lavros (2013 and 2015), Springbank Richard (2009), Whatsundermykilt (2006), Pompallier (2005) and Martina H (2002).

Light Brigade, Nelson Bingen and U Scott all sired four Dominion Handicap victors.

Light Brigade’s winning quartet were Tronso (1966), Ordeal (1960), Recruit (1955) and Fair Isle (1954), Nelson Bingen left Norma Bingen (1936), Olive Nelson (1931), Native King (1923) and Effie Bingen (1922), while U Scott’s Dominion winners were Min Scott (1963), Barrier Reef (1951), Fantom (1945) and Lady Scott (1944).

 

by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink