Betterthancash Upsets In Menangle Feature

Betterthancash (NZ) (Art Major) caused a major upset in the Listed Kevin Robinson FFA (1609m) at Menangle last Saturday when downing hot favourite and fellow Kiwi-bred Hi Manameisjeff (NZ) (Art Major). 

Based in Australia since the start of winter, Betterthancash had won one of his eight starts across the Tasman prior to Saturday’s race where he was unwanted by punters, drifting out to a $51 outsider.
As expected, Hi Manameisjeff showed blistering gate speed off the mobile arm and was taken straight to the lead, while driver Will Rixon made a beeline for the pegs with Betterthancash, settling three back on the fence.
Turning for home Hi Manameisjeff opened up a couple of lengths on his rivals and looked to have the race won, however, Rixon was able to find clear running room for Betterthancash, who slowly ate into Hi Manameisjeff’s lead, and stuck his nose out on the line to win by a head.

“He got a lovely run and when he got the run (up the straight) I was confident he was going to get there. He showed a really good turn of foot,” Rixon said.
“He is only four, so there are plenty of options for him down the track. I know they have had an opinion of him since they have had him, so I am sure he is going to be in some big races going forward going by the way he performed in a great race tonight.”
Betterthancash is out of three-win mare Betterthankaty, a half-sister to Group One winner Katy Perry, Group One performer Cash N Flow and Group Three winner Pitch Perfect.
 

He was offered at NZB Standardbred’s 2022 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch where he was purchased by trainer Regan Todd for $62,500.
He won seven of his 25 starts in New Zealand for Todd, including the Listed NZ Country Championship Final (3200m) at Addington Raceway in May, before crossing the Tasman and subsequently joining the barn of Chris Judd.
Betterthancash now has nine career wins to his credit and has earned more than $180,000 in prizemoney.