Dual IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Swayzee and Renwick Farms Dominion Trot favourite Jilliby Ballerini headline the Aussie stars tuning up for NZ Cup Week this weekend. Adam Hamilton takes a look at the must watch races.
SATURDAY NIGHT : 10.03pm (NZ time) – MENANGLE
It’s D-Day for Swayzee.
It’s been a less than ideal campaign for the big beast, but the team insists he’s back on track and will show it this weekend.
The punters agree with Swayzee a $1.25 favourite despite an outside draw (he will start from 10) in an unsuitably short 1609m dash.
Victory will see him on a November 9 flight to NZ to chase a record-equalling third successive Cup win.
9.03pm – MELTON
Fate Awaits will be known as Leap To Fame’s travelling companion, but he is already a three-time Group 1 winner himself and one of Australia’s best three-year-olds.
It won’t be easy against the airborne Got The Chocolates and star Marketplace, but he is fast, strong and classy.
Trainer-driver Grant Dixon caps his preparation against older rivals in this Melton race where former Victoria Derby winner Petracca will be the hardest to beat.
Joins Leap To Fame on Monday night’s flight to Christchurch, via Auckland.
SUNDAY : 4.24pm – MARYBOROUGH
A small but select field in the Group 3 Maryborough Trotters’ Cup includes the NZ-bound pair Jilliby Ballerini and Arcee Phoenix.
The barrier draw and her explosive early speed points to a 10th win for the season for Jilliby Ballerini, who chased home freakish stablemate Keayang Zahara last time.
She should dash to the front from gate five and make it almost impossible for her rivals.
It’s an important race for Arcee Phoenix, who hasn’t been at his best this campaign. But there was a lot more to like about his solid fifth in that Keayang Zahara race last time from an impossible position and coming wide.
Hopefully, he runs a booming race here to show he’s peaking again at the right time for NZ.
6.49pm – MARYBOROUGH
Star trotting filly Gatesys Gem has the draw to add the Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby to his NSW Derby crown from earlier this year.
She’s had an interrupted build-up to this campaign, but should now be parking after three runs back from a spell.
Crucially, she will start from gate four and that blazing early speed should see driver Nathan Jack take her to the front and have the option of trying an all the way win or sitting on a key rival and using the sprint lane.
She’s got some work to close the gap on Tracy The Jet this campaign, but this can show what progress she’s making.
Trainer Glenn Hunter said all along the filly would only be peaking by the time the $500,000 Ascent came around.