NZB Graduates To Defend Australian Invasion in NZ Trotting Cup
10 November 2025
NZB Standardbred graduates will lead the charge in trying to defend the Australian invasion at Addington Raceway on New Zealand Trotting Cup Day.
The green and gold representatives of Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) and Kingman (Always B Miki) dominate the $1 million Group One New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m) market, currently sitting at $1.60 and $8 respectively.
They are split by local hope, NZB Standardbred graduate Republican Party (NZ), (Bettor’s Delight) who heads into the the iconic race in red-hot form, having won his three lead-in races, including the Group Two Canterbury Classic (2600m) and Group Two Ashburton Flying Stakes (2400m), and is duly rated a $4.60 winning chance with TAB bookmakers.
This year’s running of the New Zealand Trotting Cup comprises a strong NZB Standardbred line-up, with graduates making up 11 of the 15-strong field.
In the Group One Dominion Trot (3200m), NZB Standardbred graduate Bet N Win will also be fighting off an Australian raid, with four square-gaiters - Jilliby Ballerini (Majestic Son), Arcee Phoenix (Trixton), Parisian Artiste (Love You), Gus (NZ) (Majestic Son) - crossing the Tasman to contest the iconic feature.
The David and Stacey White-trained five-year-old has had two lead-in runs to Tuesday’s race, including a runner-up effort behind race rival Muscle Mountain (NZ) (Muscle Hill) in last month’s Group Three Ashburton Trotters Sprint (1700m). The $32,500 yearling sale purchase shares the fourth line of betting for the Dominion with Arcee Phoenix on $9.
Earlier on the card, exciting juvenile Jumal (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) is tipped to extend his unbeaten streak in the Group One Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes 2YO C&G Final (1980m).
Purchased by Steven Reid out of Beaudiene Breeding’s 2024 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Christchurch for $95,000, the son of Downbytheseaside has been a standout on the track, winning all six of his starts to date, including the Group One Diamond Creek Farm 2YO Classic (2200m) and Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO C&G Mobile Pace (1980m).
He dominates Tuesday’s Sires’ Stakes market, currently sitting as a $1.20 favourite.
NZB Standardbred graduates are also expected to feature prominently in the meeting’s two other stakes races, with Chase A Dream (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) sitting atop the Group Two TAB Junior Free-For-All (2600m) market at $2.05, while the Arafura (NZ) (Sweet Lou) is a $2.45 favourite for the Group One Nevele R 3YO Fillies Final Mobile Pace (1980m).
NZB Standardbred $1 million Group One New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m) contenders:
| Horse | Vendor | Purchaser | Breeders | Sale | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rakero Rocket (NZ) | Belmont Park | Rakero Racing Stables | Opawa Downs Limited | 2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($16,000) | R J Dawe, K A Dawe, R J Dawe |
| Merlin (NZ) | Broadfield Lodge | Montana Park Pty Ltd | Taffy Limited | 2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($120,000) | Montana Park Pty Ltd |
| Pinseeker (NZ) | Woodlands Stud (NZ) Ltd | Iain Wilson | Woodlands Stud (NZ) Ltd | 2020 All Age Sale ($4,200) | I S Wilson, P S Brinsdon, J M Wood, B J McKone ONZM, P C Stephens, L W Boersma, G W May |
| Republican Party (NZ) | Price Bloodstock | Cran Dalgety | F J Price,Mrs K V Price | 2020 National Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($210,000) | Mrs C M Dalgety, G E Dickey, Mrs J E Rooney, G A Ayers, First Term Syndicate, D A Schollum, K J Cummings, B A Smith, G P Merlo, A & M Syndicate |
| Vessem (NZ) | Rosedale Farm | All Stars Racing Stables | Mrs H van Opzeeland | 2022 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($30,000) | Mrs H van Opzeeland, S W R Gillan, Mrs P P Gillan, P I Baken, J H Grainger, Mrs J A Grainger, Kirkwood Family Racing Syndicate |
| Sooner The Bettor (NZ) | Kufra Farm | Barry Purdon Racing Stables Ltd | C N Radford,W E Radford,Ms D E Richardson | 2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale - Christchurch ($130,000) | Mrs K J Purdon, Montana Park Pty Ltd, R Cole, Mrs C Nausbaum, Mrs M McKay, D J Tonks, B K Parker |
| Akuta (NZ) | Broadfield Lodge | All Stars Racing Stables | P I Renwick, Mrs P M Renwick | 2020 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($170,000) | Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon, T F Shaw |
| Alta Meteor (NZ) | Alabar (NZ) Ltd | Stonewall Stud | Alta Breeding Co Ltd | 2020 All Age Sale, Gavelhouse.com ($25,000) | Stonewall Stud Ltd |
| Mo’unga (NZ) | Breckon Farms Ltd | PI & GJ Kennard Bloodstock Ltd | B J Whitelock,Mrs C J Whitelock | 2020 National Yearling Sale, Auckland ($100,000) | Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, J A Gibbs MNZM, Mrs A Gibbs, G A Woodham, Mrs K J Woodham, R W Todd, C J Kirkwood |
| Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) | Studholme Bloodstock Ltd | All Stars Racing Stables | Studholme Bloodstock Limited,M B Jefferies | 2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($250,000) | Est I D Dobson, D M Dunford, M D Dunford |
| Better Knuckle Up (NZ) | Breckon Farms Ltd | Mr FD Cooney as agent | H A David, G David | 2022 National Yearling Sale, Auckland ($90,000) | Mrs J V Stott, P A Stott |