IRT New Zealand Cup day – Race by Race

11 November 2025

IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day 2025 is underway and we will doing race by race coverage of all 13 races.

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Race 1 : SAUNDERS ROBINSON BROWN TROT ($30,000, 3YO & OLDER R40 TO R45, 2600m)

Despite being at lucrative odds Judy J made it a one horse race in the opener. Driver Sheree Tomlinson made a flier from the unruly in a big field and headed straight to the front. Majesdix and Matthew Williamson were nicely placed in the trail but heading for home Judy J left them to it.  It was the four-year-old mare’s fourth win in 38 starts. The win, by nearly five metres, followed Judy J’s second at Kaikoura last start.
“It was lucky that Jude was in the right mood today,” Tomlinson beamed post race, “she deserved to win a decent race.”
Judy J paid $20.40 and $4.80. Favourite Hoof It Hagrid had a good run but faded before the home turn. The Judy J-Majesdix-Koko Kaboom trifecta paid $10,535.80.

Race 2 : HYDROFLOW MOBILE PACE ($30,000, 3YO & OLDER R40 TO R45, 1980m)

Ricky May has been winning races on Cup day for decades (think 7 NZ Cups) and he got on the board in Race 2 with the Regan Todd-trained Spirit Downunder. The in-form three-year-old was pushed through to lead with just over a lap to go and was actually headed by Scrunch in the home straight before rallying back to win narrowly in a very competitive finish. Scrunch, the second favourite behind Spirit Downunder, had produced a massive effort for driver John Dunn, having to circle the field after starting from the outside of the second row. He finished third, just behind Flying Bird who got a lovely run in the trail for Matthew Williamson. The Spirit Downunder-Flying Bird-Scrunch trifecta paid $44.90. It was Spirit Downunder’s third win in 11 starts. 

Race 3 : MITRE 10 WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP HEAT 20 (MOBILE TROT) ($30,000, 4YO & OLDER, 2600m)

Race 3 was the 20th and final heat of the World Driving Championship with the Phil Williamson-trained pacer-turned-trotter He Aint Fakin starting a $1.75 favourite. He won his debut as a square-gaiter and followed it up with a huge performance for Italy’s Giampaolo Minnucci. He Aint Faking and another of the favoured runners Donna’s Boy went to war over the last 1000 metres. He Aint Faking sat parked but had enough in reserve to grind out a very impressive victory. It was Minnucci’s second win in the WDC. Canada’s James MacDonald finished down the field with Alotoftrouble but he had a 15 point buffer going into today and did enough to clinch his second WDC title, after earlier winning in his home country in 2017. The He Aint Fakin-Donna’s Boy- One Over Da Line trifecta paid $16.50.

Race 4 : ALSCO UNIFORMS MOBILE PACE ($30,000, 3YO & OLDER R46 TO R50, 1980m)

With the late scratching of Tact Teva, Secret Agent Man started a $1.95 favourite for trainer-driver Nathan Williamson. But the Sweet Lou four-year-old had to sit parked throughout as Blair Orange and Taketheplunge headed to the front. Orange then rated his charge a treat as they got home from a fast finishing Heaven’s Mark and Miki’s Courage, who got the gun run in the trail. Secret Agent Man held on for fourth. It was Taketheplunge’s fourth win in 22 starts, with trainer Steven Reid also lining up the day’s shortest favourite Jumal later in the day. The Taketheplunge-Heaven’s Mark-Miki’s Courage trifecta paid $211.80.

Race 5 : AOTEA ELECTRIC HANDICAP TROT ($30,000, 3YO & OLDER R46 TO R60 SPECIAL, 3200m)

The in-form Dreams Pat was a $3.50 favourite but off his 20 metre handicap was 20 lengths off the leader, Ready Set Jet early on. He was launched three wide and was parked outside Ready Set Jet for a while before breaking out of contention. Ready Set Jet and Bob Butt had the field’s measure heading for home but The Present Maker, driven by Wilson House, produced a huge run out wide to beat them all, paying $12.80. It was a stylish performance for a trotter heading places. House was especially delighted to win it for his “mate” and co-trainer Jack Best. “I knew I had to patient,” says House, “and the horse looked a million dollars and warmed up amazing.” The Present Maker-Paige-Princess Sadie trifecta paid $1325.60. It was The Present Maker’s sixth win in 23 starts. 

Race 6 : TAB JUNIOR FREE-FOR-ALL (Gr2) ($60,000, 3YO & OLDER FFA, 2600m)

It was Team Dalgety to the fore in the Junior Free For All. Trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety got their 200th win in partnership when Franco Sinatra out-toughed Hadron Collider with their son Carter Dalgety in the bike. The same team will line up key chance Republican Party in the NZ Cup. It was a race of numerous lead changes as Wag Star went out early before handing up to Chase A Dream . Hadron Collider and Blair Orange then took up the lead with a lap to go. All the time Franco Sinatra was beautifully positioned in the one-one and over the final 150 metres overhauled the leader. Franco Sinatra was at double figure odds ($12). The Franco Sinatra-Hadron Collider-Smoke On The Water trifecta paid $1637.30. It was Franco Sinatra’s 11th career win. They have all been at Addington.

Race 7 : GARRARDS HORSE & HOUND HANDICAP TROT ($30,000, 3YO & OLDER R56 & FASTER DISCRETIONARY, 2600m)

What is with trotters in form! Bounce N Beyond won his third race in his last six starts with a spectacular win. Trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn and driven by John, the four-year-old gelding got a nice trip before launching three wide at the 600. It was then a case of hanging on – and he did as the challengers came thick and fast. It was the horse’s ninth win in 33 starts. “It was a great effort,” said driver John Dunn, “he was all out at the 100 and he dug deep and did great.” Walkinonsunshine also put in an exceptional effort. He broke at the start and trailed the field only to mount a huge finish to be a close up fourth for Blair Orange. The Bounce N Beyond – Mystic Max – Empire City trifecta paid $1357.10. 

Race 8 : WOODLANDS STUD SIRES’ STAKES 2YO C&G FINAL (MOB PACE) (Gr1) ($200,000, 2YO COLTS & GELDINGS MOBILE, 1980m)

The first of the day’s Group 1s and Jumal started as an unbeatable $1.20 favourite. He was six from six going into the race but was upstaged by Freeze Frame and a 10 out of 10 drive from Kimberly Butt. Freeze Frame’s stablemate Fugitive was quick off the arm and led early before Jumal took over the lead with a circuit remaining. But he wasn’t going to have all his own way – far from it. Butt made her move to get parked and then slot into the trail turning for home. It turned out to be the winning of the race. The combo then zoomed up the passing lane to beat Allamericanplayer by a nose with Jumal a close up third. Freeze Frame has now won three from nine, paying $23 for the win. The Freeze Frame-Allamericanplayer-Jumal trifecta paid $901.30. It was Cran and Chrissie Dalgety’s second win for the day, ahead of stable star Republican Party’s New Zealand Cup tilt.

Race 9 :  NEVELE R 3YO FILLIES FINAL (MOBILE PACE) (Gr1) ($200,000, 3YO FILLIES, 1980m)

The upsets kept coming in the day’s second Group 1. Heavily supported were the Hayden and Amanda Cullen-trained pair of Arafura and Winelight. Always B Magic was the early leader before Arafura and Mark Purdon made their move. They had a clear break 200 metres out only for Celestial Sea to emerge. Driven by John Dunn Celestial Sea was third back in the running line but produced a sustained finish to gobble up the leaders, paying $62! Arafura held on for second with Duchess Of Kent third. The trifecta paid $744.50. It was Team Dunn’s second win of the day, following on from Bounce N Beyond. It was John Dunn’s second winning drive in the Group 1, 11 years after Venus Serena. 

Race 10 : RENWICK FARMS DOMINION (STAND TROT) (Gr1) ($400,000, FFA, 3200m)

The Aussies were expected to be hard to beat in the country’s most prestigious trotting race, with four of them lined up. And it was Gus, formerly with Nathan Williamson down south, who did the business for driver Pete McMullen. There was plenty of speed in the race early with fellow Aussies and favourite Jilliby Balerini and Arcee Phoenix setting the tempo. At the 600 McMullen made his move, lighting him up down the back straight. They went to the front  and held off the challenge of Mr Love, who had been left parked and a fast finishing Oscar Bonavena. Jilliby Ballerini, a $2.80 favouirte, couldn’t stay with them and finished fourth, ahead of Bet N Win. The trifecta paid $1885. It was Gus’ 17th win in 45 starts. It was Australia’s second win the race in two years, following on from the great Just Believe last year. 

Race 11 : AVON CITY FORD MOBILE PACE (30,000, R58 TO R70, 1980m)

Everyone thought this was a two horse race : It’s Tough vs Sideshow Bruce. And that’s exactly how it worked out. Sideshow Bruce and Bob Butt took the early initiative and went to the lead with It’s Tough slotting into the trail. Turning for home it seemed advantage Sideshow Bruce but It’s Tough took the passing lane and it was game over. The in-form four-year-old has now won six of his last seven starts and eight overall. For John Dunn and Diamond Racing it was their third win for the day. The It’s Tough-Sideshow Bruce-Amass trifecta paid $101.40.

Race 12 : IRT NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP (STAND PACE) (Gr1) ($1,000,000, FFA, 3200m)

The Aussies have done it again! Victoria Cup winner Kingman was a late nomination for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup and produced a stunning performance to outstay the great Leap To Fame and win the $1m feature. Luke McCarthy was not involved in the early hustle and bustle of the Cup but decided to go three wide for the last lap and still had too much gas for Leap To Fame and Merlin.  It’s Australia’s third win in the Cup following the back to back wins by Swayzee. This was McCarthy’s third drive in the great race – his previous best was a third with For A Reason in 2014.  It’s Kingman’s 14th win in 34 starts. Leap To Fame was brave in finishing second with Republican Party leading, only to finish sixth. The Kingman-Leap To Fame – Merlin trifecta paid $107.90. Kingman’s win completed an Aussie double in the day’s two big races, following Gus’ win in the Dominion. 

Race 13 : GOLD BAND TAXIS MOBILE PACE ($30,000, 3YO & OLDER R51 TO R57, R58 WITH COND, 1980m)

J T Boe got one back for favorites’ backers in the last. The Telfer-trained four-year-old was taken back at the start and then Tim Williams made his move to work to the front. Esmeralda and Radha both eyeballed the favourite but he proved too strong in the end to give Williams his 999th career success. It was his sixth win in 17 starts. The J T Boe-Esmeralda-Radha trifecta paid $77.40.

That’s it from Addington on Cup Day as we now look forward to the two slot races and the swag of Group 1 action on Show Day.