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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
By Michael Guerin One man may hold to the key to today’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington. There will be 15 high class pacers from 11 different stables and two countries in our greatest harness race over 3200m but what Carter Dalgety chooses to do in a few crucial seconds around the middle of the race could determine the outcome more than just about anything else. Dalgety drives New Zealand’s leading hope Republican Party, trained by his parents Cran and Chrissie, who have craved a New Zealand Cup win since they were kids. This is their chance. Republican Party has been clearly the best pacer in New Zealand this spring with three crushing victories in fast times and on all three occasions he has held his top speed to the line. That is crucial in a New Zealand Cup, where the searing speed over the long trip means the Addington home straight is no place for those who flinch. There is plenty of class among local rivals like Akuta, Merlin and We Walk By Faith in particular but on his form of the last year, and even more so this spring, Republican Party’s best has the Kiwis covered. So what is the problem? Well, it is actually there are two of them and one of them is the harness racing sun that puts everything else in his shade: Leap To Fame. The Queensland champion returns to New Zealand where he won the Race By Betcha in April for a race of the same monetary value but worth so much more. His trainer-driver Grant Dixon has always wanted to win a New Zealand Cup, a race of near mythical allure to the best Australian trainers. Leap To Fame has proved almost unbeatable, apart from a few occasions when below his best, when he has been able to lead. He has beautiful manners so while his mid-front line standing start position will be a mental test for him today he should be no worse than midfield when everybody sorts themselves out. But he is likely to be behind Republican Party as the Kiwi pacers do this big field, standing start stuff all year around. If Dalgety secures that tactical advantage, after his spring form, it would seem logical he can head towards the lead inside the first lap. Soon after could come the moment that decides this New Zealand Cup. If Republican Party is in front and Dixon comes looking for control of the race Dalgety has two options: hand him the front or leave him parked. Give the lead way and he is almost guaranteed being towed into second with the tiny hope he runs past Leap To Fame. Leave the Aussie hero parked and he increases his chances of beating him but also copping pressure that leaves them both vulnerable late, including to the other Aussie in the race, Victoria Cup winner Kingman. This time last year there would have been no decision to make. Republican Party was clearly inferior to Leap To Fame and he probably still is. But that gap may have closed. Republican Party has gained a harder edge, constant battles have become frequent wins. And after two recent defeats in Melbourne you could suggest Leap To Fame may have lost a percentage point or two of dominance. He is still the best horse in this race but no longer wears an undentable suit of armour. A former First 15 rugby star, Dalgety is not one to be intimidated by those bigger and stronger than him, so his first thought is, if he gains an advantage, keep it. “The biggest advantage in racing is being on the marker pegs, especially at Addington on Cup Day, so if we can get to the front I won’t be handing up,” he says. “I know what a great horse Leap To Fame is, he is a champion, and there are plenty of other very good horses in his race but if we end up in that position and hand up, we probably concede defeat. “Our horse has never been better. He is flying and has improved since Ashburton [last start]. “Dad has been waiting all his life to train a Cup winner and we may never get a chance like this again so we won’t give it away and if Leap To Fame, or anything else, can come from outside us or behind us to win then they are just too good.” If that most likely of Cup scenarios plays out then Republican Party’s chances increase, Leap To Fame’s slightly reduce, and rivals like Kingman, Merlin, Akuta and We Walk By Faith all get a larger glimmer of hope. And we could get the gift of a vintage New Zealand Cup. Michael Guerin’s Cup selections : 1 Leap To Fame 2 Republican Party 3 Kingman 4 Akuta View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
By Michael Guerin Australian reinsman Jason Lee admits the mystery horse of New Zealand Cup day comes with a risk. So he warns punters Jilliby Ballerini is no good thing even as the surprise $2.80 favourite in today’s $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion at Addington. While die-hard harness fans may have seen Jilliby Ballerini starring in Victoria recently well over 90 per cent of New Zealand harness racing fans would never have seen her race. Here is the snapshot: Four-year-old mare trained by the same stable as champion youngster Keayang Zahara, used to be a bit erratic but looks calmer now. And can run like the wind. But Jilliby Ballerini has also only had one career standing start, which she won, today is her first 3200m race and she has never even been out of Victoria until last week. “To be honest, I thought she was a bit short,” admits Lee. “Make no mistake, she is good enough to win otherwise she wouldn’t be coming over and she is really fast. “Like I don’t think Zahara could sit parked outside her over the short trip and beat her. “But she is going to need to be a quick learner cause she will never have seen a front line like she will on Tuesday and the hard run 3200m. “So I realise this has its challenges.” If Jilliby Ballerini steps cleanly and can stay handy, especially on a moderate tempo, her young legs may too fast for the old boys and she could do something spectacular. But her $2.80 favouritism is hard to comprehend. While she has had the wood on Inter Dominion champion Arcee Phoenix recently there is a lot of been-there, done-that about the latter and his $9 is the best each way value of today’s entire meeting because if he leads he will take enormous pegging back. There is enough to like about Mighty Logan, Rowe Cup winner Bet N Win and Queensland trotter Gus to suggest they could all win without stunning which leaves us the two old heroes of New Zealand trotting in Oscar Bonavena and Muscle Mountain. Both are majestic examples of the trotter when their bodies and minds are in sync, blessed with turbo-charged motors but cursed with the dents that come from going too fast for too long. If the Canterbury sun warms their old muscles today, they step away and are put to sleep until their rivals get weary they could do something dazzling in the last 400m so don’t let anybody talk you out of backing them. So often the Dominion, our greatest trot, has been won by equine giants who have stomped around Addington mercilessly. Today’s Dominion doesn’t have one of those. So it might come down to who can handle the pressure, cover the least ground and, ultimately at the end of 3200m, wants it the most. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
It’s here! Today is IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day, the country’s biggest race day. There are 13 races, starting at noon, with the day’s two biggest races, the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at 4.37pm and the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at 5.53pm. So to help you navigate the day here are some tips and selections. HOW TO TACKLE NZ CUP DAY By Michael Guerin 1: The Cup, Republican Party (R12, No.5): The little fella isn’t the best horse in the race but I’m not sure there is any value in taking $1.6 for the champ Leap To Fame, unless of course you want to say you backed him the day he won the Cup, which he probably will do. But Republican Party could get out to $5 or more because of the name recognition for Leap To Fame and Aussie punters love for Kingman and Luke McCarthy. If you end up getting $5.50 or even $6 Republican Party you are getting each way odds about a pacer who can win, and shouldn’t miss a place. Or you could be really cunning and take around $2.50 him to finish Top 2. 2: The Dominion: Arcee Phoenix (R10, No.4) One of my favourite races of the season but also a race with doubts around the leading contenders for one reason or another. Victorian mare Jilliby Ballerini could be special and smash them but has only had one standing start and would never have seen anything like today, either on or off the track. The good old boys of New Zealand trotting Muscle Mountain and Oscar Bonavena can both win and either could do it in style but they may also be a length or two down on their peak of yesteryear. Bet N Win and the talented but erratic Gus have to cop second line draws while Mighty Logan can win but was only average last time. By a process of elimination the best each way bet is Arcee Phoenix. He has proven he can travel and win, has handled Cup Day before and has won the Inter over 3157m mobile. So the big Victorian look a top each way bet at $9. 3: Sires’ Stakes Final, Jumal (R8, No.3): Lets get the easy stuff out of the way, not that a $200,000 Sires’ Stakes Final should be easy. But Jumal has been brutal on his rivals and from barrier 3 has a heap of ways to win this and not many ways to lose this. The mini multi-anchor for the day. 4: Nevele R Final, Arafura (R9, No.5): Her Ashburton heat win was a real statement and she has a good shot at getting the lead down the straight the first time, especially as it could be stablemate Winelight (2) in front. But regardless of who leads it is hard to imagine they would park this tough filly and leave them themselves vulnerable for the swoopers. Her price is short enough but hard to make a logical case to back something else. 5: Junior Free-For-All, Wag Star (R6, No.1): Has been going well without any luck in the best open class races and drops back a level here. Has gate speed and the all-important marker pegs draw so those working wider will find him hard to get around him. He is a good each bet even though Chase A Dream’s best is better. Selections : Greg O’Connor (Trackside) R1 Hoof It Hagrid, Massive Merc, Holly Highlander, Tu Tangata R2 Spirit Downunder, Scrunch, Patiro, Burnham Girl R3 He Aint Fakin, Donna’s Boy, Yosemite, One Ova Da Line R4 Secret Agent Man, Taketheplunge, Tact Teva, Kotare Kelso R5 The Present Maker, Ready Set Jet, Dreams Pat, Muscle Sass R6 Wag Star, Chase A Dream, Hadron Collider, The Surfer R7 Bounce N Beyond, Zoltan Boscik, Confessional, Empire City R8 Jumal, Fugitive, Sonofamistery, Zeus Lightning R9 Winelight, Arafura, Duchess Of Kent, Celestial Sea R10 Arcee Phoenix, Mighty Logan, Jilliby Ballerini, Muscle Mountain R11 Sideshow Bruce, It’s Tough, Double Jeopardy, Magician R12 Leap To Fame, Republican Party, Akuta, We Walk By Faith R13 J T Boe, Radha, Berrettini, Esmeralda NZ Cup Day special – Six of the Best These horses have had the preparations and current season campaigns to suggest they should be highly competitive on NZ’s biggest harness occasion of the year. Race 4 : 1.22pm – Tact Teva (3g Lather Up – Tact Hayley Jane) Tr. S & A Telfer Freshened since getting no favours in the listed Sophomore behind Greased Lightning (17/10/25) after racing wide in the open over the last 700m. Still only 6L from the winner on a 1:57MR on that occasion. Start before that accounted for several of his ‘cup day’ rivals (3/10/25) with some aplomb. Nice trial for second behind Always Dreaming at the ‘cup’ trials. Will need to do some work from his second line draw but as the winner of three of his 9 starts, has shown himself to be above average and this field looks well within his grasp. Leading stable sure to have him primed for a big run. To place a bet in this race click here Race 6 : 2.12pm – Wag Star (5g Sweet Lou – Sunny Two Shoes) Tr. C Ferguson Standing start manners let him down in his quest to get a start in the ‘big race’ but far from disgraced often running on belatedly from average trips, the last two races especially behind one of the cup favourites in Republican Party. Hard to make ground from the rear when your rivals are running home in sub 56secs. Three starts ago was a very meritorious second in the Methven Cup behind Rakero Rocket. The racing ‘gods’ have given him the No 1 draw in the Junior FFA on Tuesday and he can definitely play a part in the finish based on recent efforts. Has been domiciled at the Todd racing stables in recent times. Represents attractive E/W value To place a bet on this race click here Race 8 : 3.22pm – Jumal (2c Downbytheseaside – Beaudiene Blinkz) Tr. S Reid Unbeaten in six race day starts and his last start in particular (10/10/25) was truly massive where he beat most of these cup day rivals on a tough trip. Back at the trials late October and in the cup day trials with more winning turns to keep him up to the mark. Goes into the Sires’ Stakes final (Group 1) with the distinct advantage of drawing very handy on the front line over his key rivals and expected to lead. Whether he hands to any rival is questionable and remains a very strong chance to remain unbeaten. Punters have to decide how to ‘play the punt’ with the Reid runner offering microscopic returns on the tote. To place a bet on this race click here Race 9 : 4.03pm – Duchess Of Kent (3f Art Major – Galleon’s Honour) Tr. L Pearson Very smart filly beaten just once in her last 8 ‘public’ appearances (including trials) and only went down by a narrow margin to Arafura on a 1:54MR at Ashburton (27/10/25), her first raceday start since late August. Cops a 2nd line draw for the $200k Nevele R Group 1 final but not as bad as it looks and likely to get through soon after the start as directly behind potential pacemaker Winelight. No doubt the Cullen threesome the hardest to beat but expecting a ‘fitter’ horse to take the track on Tuesday and a real contender to take out the major prize To place a bet on this race click here Race 12 : 5.53pm – Leap To Fame (6h Bettor’s Delight – Lettucereason) Tr. G Dixon The winner of a staggering 58 races from 73 starts with another 13 placings to his name, this Aussie pacer is unquestionably the best pacer currently in Australasia. Any kiwi cynics should go back and take a look at his Cambridge win earlier in the season where he powered away from his rivals. While having little standing start experience, he seems a sensible type and with a handy front line draw he should at least get away on terms with his rivals. He also seems to lack electrifying speed and more often than not turns his races into staying contests, something that should stand him in good stead over the 3200m. From any angle, he remains the one to beat. To place a bet on this race click here Race 13 : 6.33pm – Esmeralda (4m Always B Miki – Lauragrace) Tr. G O’Reilly Three runs back this campaign after a successful winter time with her latest effort (24/10/25) full of merit behind Its Tough after being forced to sit parked for a good way. Prior to that was a very good third behind Franco Sinatra on a 55.8 last 800m. Trainer has two in the race and has chosen to drive Esmeralda from her widish draw. TAB odds seem attractive because of that one factor but tightest assessed horse in this field (along with Radha) and with some luck in the running, she looks real E/W value in the ‘getout’ stakes To place a bet on this race click here Betting information : There will be guaranteed $10,000 First 4s on all races and a guaranteed $50,000 Late Quaddie (starting on Race 10 at 4.37) The popular Out The Gate team (Guy Heveldt, Brendon Popplewell and Mitch James) will be in action. To get involved click on the QR code and the best of luck. To see the TAB’s Runner By Runner Guide in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup click here To see the TAB’s Tips and Preview for Cup day click here View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Elite Power, the only son of Curlin to receive Eclipse Awards in consecutive season and whose first foals have been very well-received at this year's weanling sales, will stand the 2026 breeding season for a fee of $35,000, live foal stands and nurses, at Juddmonte's Kentucky nursery. Elite Power has covered some 360 mares in his first two years at stud, his first book having included five champions and better than 25 elite-level winners or producers. A colt from the family of GI Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate) fetched $550,000 from Glen Hill Farm on the second day of the Keeneland November Sale during which 15 youngsters sold for an average of over $185,000. Twelve of the 15 were knocked down for seven-figure pricetags. 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Mandaloun (Into Mischief) will command a service fee of $10,000 LFSN. The GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Stakes hero was represented by his first crop of yearlings in 2025, with a close relative of champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) selling to Pin Oak Stud for $1 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. The post Well-Received Elite Power To Stand For $35K at Juddmonte In 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Kalpana's sire Study Of Man is set for a fee increase to £35,000 after the Lanwades Stud resident enjoyed another excellent year. Once again, Kalpana flew the flag for the Prix du Jockey Club winner when landing the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes for Andrew Balding and Juddmonte Farms. Meanwhile, Sea The Moon, the sire of five Group 1 winners, has been set at £20,000. Bobby's Kitten, who stood for nine years at Lanwades Stud, does not appear on the roster. The post Study Of Man To Have Stud Fee Increased To £35,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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