By Adam Hamilton
The New Zealand Cup Week spotlight is firmly across the ditch this weekend.
The two best pacers in this part of the world, Leap To Fame and Swayzee, continue their preparations for the IRT NZ Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11 with lead-up runs in Queensland and New South Wales tonight.
Leap To Fame returns from a spell at Albion Park at 9.14pm, while Swayzee steps out over 2300m at Menangle at 9.50pm.
They will then clash in the $250,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on October 18 before heading to NZ to prepare for the Cup.
Also at Menangle, underrated Victorian trotter and Brisbane Inter Dominion heat winner Parisian Artiste is favourite to return to winning form in the final event (race eight), a mile trotting race at 12.28am (Sunday morning).
He looks on target for tilts at the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and NZ Trotting Free-For-All in Cup Week.
Down at Melton on the same night, Inter Dominion and TAB Trot winner Arcee Phoenix is on the quick back-up after a labouring sixth from a daunting 30m handicap when he resumed at Menangle last Saturday night.
Chris Svanosio’s six-year-old moves forward to a 20m handicap and stretches from 2300m to a more suitable 2760m. He will also strip fitter.
It will give a much better guide to where he’s at and also be some more valuable standing-start practice again of the Dominion.
On the same card, Australia’s two confirmed contenders for the $500,000 Majestic Horse Floats THE ASCENT at Addington on November 14 – Tracy The Jet and Gatesys Gem – step out.
Tracy The Jet is a $1.04 favourite to overcome a wide draw (gate seven) and make it five wins from as many starts this campaign in the Group 1 Need For Speed Princess final (12.38am Sunday).
Gatesys Gem, who beat Tracy The Jet in the NSW Trotters’ Oaks in May, will return from a spell from an outside draw (gate seven) against older rivals in the third race at Melton (9.57pm).
It means a fascinating clash with the untapped Lady Vici, who boasts eight wins from just nine starts.
