The twilight Show Day meeting, complete with four Group 1s and the two $500,000 slot races, is underway at Addington Raceway.
It promises to be one of the great race days of the year and there are trans-Tasman battles right across the day.
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
IRT SIRES STAKES SERIES 2YO CHAMPS MBL TROT (G1)
The day’s opening Group 1 started in similar fashion to Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting – and that was with an Australian victory. Victoria’s Kyvalley Ray, trained by ex-pat Kiwi Brent Lilley, made it three wins from four New Zealand starts. Driver Blair Orange was unhurried off the gate, and sat parked for most of the journey outside Petite Armour and John Dunn. It came down to a two way battle with Kyvalley Ray just outmuscling his rival. Kyvalley Ray was backed into $1.80. Who’s Ya Daddy finished third, the trifecta paying $33.10.
MAJESTIC HORSEFLOATS LP ‘THE ASCENT’ (MOBILE TROT) (Listed)
The Australian domination continued with a very emotional victory in the $500,000 slot race for the trotters. Gun Victorian filly Tracy The Jet and driver James Herbertson led from start to finish and hot on her heels was fellow Australian Gatesys Gem who held on stylishly for second. It was a commanding performance as Tracy The Jet set a new national record of 2:23.7 (1980m). The Tony Herlihy-trained and driven Youneverknow finished third. There were plenty of tears and hugs post race with Tracy The Jet’s trainer Jess Tubbs returning to Addington for the first time since the death of her husband Greg Sugars in April. This time last year the Tubbs-Sugars combo won the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot with their champion trotter Just Believe.
“To get this win for Greg is special and makes me so proud,” Tubbs said post race. It was Tracy The Jet’s ninth win in 14 starts. Last year’s inaugural THE ASCENT winner was another Victorian in Keayang Zahara.
BOB McARDLE SIRES’ STAKES STHN MARES MBL PACE (L)
The draw (13) did her no favours but Esmeralda was in a class of her own in the Bob McArdle. Trainer-driver Gerard O’Reilly gave the Always B Miki four-year-old a perfect trip – they were aggressive early and were in the lead with a lap to go and never looked in danger, winning by five lengths. She paid $9 for the win, her fifth in 15 starts. Favourite Ruby Roe went round three wide and finished third with Amaretto Franco mounting a stern challenge out wide to finish second.
DUNSTAN SIRES’ STAKES SERIES 2YO FILLIES FINAL (MOB PACE) (Gr1)
It was the second Group 1 for the week and the 50th overall for co-trainer Cran Dalgety when favourite All Of Me took out the 2YO Fillies Group 1. It was a Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained quinella with The Queens Gambit (Kimberly Butt) finishing second. It also completed a 2YO Group 1 double for Kentuckiana Lodge after Freeze Frame and Butt upset in the Colts and Geldings Final on Tuesday. “It’s just one of those weeks when the stars align,” said Cran Dalgety post race, “it’s a big thrill.”
It was All Of Me’s second win in five starts, following on from Kaikoura on November 3. The Dalgetys’ stable star Republican Party lines up in the Group 1 Allied Security Free For All Pace at 8.07pm after his sixth placing in Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.
AZAP ELECTRICAL NZ TROTTING FREE-FOR-ALL (MOBILE TROT) (Gr1)
It takes some trotter to win the Cup Group 1 double but that’s exactly what Aussie star Gus has done this week. He followed up his win in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot with a dominant win in the Free For All. Driver Pete McMullen was forced to bide his time from a second row draw, only to make a mid race move and sit parked outside hotpot Jilliby Ballerini. As the $1.75 favourite faded, Gus was only getting warmed up and he cleared out from the pack in impressive fashion. “It’s a bit unreal,” said McMullen post race, “he raced super.”
Summing up his week he said : “It’s incredible.” Gus has now won four of his last five starts and 18 overall.
HILL LEE & SCOTT ‘THE VELOCITY’ (MOBILE PACE) (Listed)
It was billed as the $500,000 match race between Marketplace and Got The Chocolates and what a race it was. From his handy draw (2) Marketplace, the $1.85 favourite, headed for the front with Craig Ferguson controlling the tempo. John Dunn meanwhile had to go three wide and then sit parked with Got The Chocolates before he served it to his great rival. He was four lengths off the lead at the 400 metre mark but it was Got The Chocolates who prevailed in an epic battle, with Australian Fait Awaits and Bettors Anvil filling the minors some seven lengths away. As commentator Matt Cross said “Got The Chocolates – he is New Zealand’s best three-year-old.” It was his ninth win in 23 starts. “He must have a big ticker this fella,” said Dunn post race.
ALLIED SECURITY NZ PACING FFA MOBILE PACE (G1)
When Leap To Fame rolled to the front it was game over as Australia continued to make their considerable presence felt at Addington. “Larry”, as he’s known, is a $5m plus earner and an absolute superstar of the sport. This was win number 59 from just 75 starts. “It’s a helluva relief,”trainer-driver Grant Dixon admitted afterwards.
Big Kiwi hope Republican Party pushed him hard in finishing second with Merlin, who had sat parked, holding on for third. Leap To Fame started a $1.80 favourite following his brave second to Kingman in Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.
