The 2015/16 Australian Pacing Gold Grand Circuit action heads across the ditch for the $NZ750, 000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday.
It’s the second leg of the eight leg series.
The opening leg of the Grand Circuit, the $200,000 Queensland Pacing Championship at Albion Park was taken out by the locally trained Our Hi Jinx in a decisive manner.
Now the city of Christchurch will play host to the biggest event on the New Zealand harness racing calendar.
But who will get their hands on the Cup this year?
First staged in 1904, the honour roll boasts a who’s who of racing royalty.
If you’re using last year’s Cup as a guide to finding this year’s winner – look again!
Of the first five across the line last year, only Franco Nelson (2nd) will back-up this season but under bizarre circumstances.
Last year’s victor Adore Me and Cups King Terror To Love (4th) are both retired while ageing Australian stallion For A Reason (3rd) has recently transferred to Perth in preparation for the Inter Dominion series while early favourite Christen Me (5th) was withdrawn last week owing to health issues.
The winning silks from last season of blue with silver stars could be too the fore again with in-form pacers Smolda and Messini both representing the stables of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.
Purdon will partner Smolda, a brilliant pacer that has battled setbacks for the past 2 ½ years but proved his recent form was no fluke with a scorching victory in the traditional Cup lead-up event, the Ashburton Flying Stakes two weeks ago.
Purdon has driven three Cup winners, Il Vicolo (twice) and Adore Me.
Rasmussen has staged a miraculous recovery from a fractured elbow three weeks ago and will return to race driving on Tuesday and will partner popular Australian bred pacer Messini, a last start runner-up in the Kaikoura Cup.
While most marvel at the success of the blue jacket with silver stars, the eerily similar silks of silver jacket with blue spots needs no introduction for the famous event.
Those silks belong to Mark’s older brother Barry who took over from his legendary father Roy and the Cup winners have flowed freely from their Clevedon stables.
Champion names like Chokin, Christopher Vance and Luxury Liner have sported that famous livery on Cup day.
While their last success was back in 1993, the stable has an outstanding opportunity to find the winners circle again through classy pacer Sky Major.
The hulking son of star sire Art Major looked impressive winning the Cup trial at Addington earlier this week.
Purdon also prepares the only mare in the Cup this season, Lancewood Lizzie, a winner of the Jewels earlier this year.
And keeping it within the family, champion reinsman Tony Herlihy who drove those three Cup winners for Barry Purdon prepares his own challenger this year in Ohoka Punter.
The dual Derby winner boasts solid recent form and is strongly fancied to claim the great prize.
The last North Island trained winner of the Cup was Changeover for Geoff Small back in 2008.
Highly decorated pacer Tiger Tara is another under strong consideration while emerging types like No Doctor Needed, Mossdale Conner, Te Kawau, Brilliant Strike and Mighty Flying Mac all have claims.
The Butt brothers of Tim and Anthony again combine with another representative in the Cup, veteran pacer Choise Achiever is looking to add another feature race trophy to his collection.
Back to Franco Nelson, who is now prepared by Michael House, will tackle the 3200m stand start feature fresh having last started back in January.
Mighty Australian stayer Flashing Red went back to back in 2006/07 and many more fine Aussie’s have come close in recent times and this year the representatives are Victorian trained stars Arden Rooney and (Im) Corzin Terror.
Arden Rooney, prepared by wonder woman Kerryn Manning, looked excellent with a stunning staying display in the Kaikoura Cup earlier this week defeating Messini and looks set to relish the staying trip on Tuesday.
Since being unplaced in the Cup last year, Arden Rooney was transferred to Manning at her Great Western base and feature victories under her care include the Hunter, Geelong, Terang, Mildura and Swan Hill Cups.
(Im) Corzin Terror, prepared by astute mentor Dean Braun, has also collected plenty of silverware since being based in Australia with victories in the Ballarat, Bendigo, Terang and Maryborough (x 2) Cups.
Former world driving champion Mark Jones has been booked to take the drive.
The New Zealand Cup is race 10 on the program and is scheduled to start at 5.15pm local time.
