2009 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Carnival highlights

2009 New Zealand Cup Carnival highlights

Harnesslink News Room 07:13 PM 17-Nov-2009 NZT

Monkey King - Winning the $1,000,000 New Zealand Cup

After finishing agonizingly close in 2007 it was finally the turn of Monkey King in this year's Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup. The Brendon Hill trained Ricky May driven 7yo made the beginning of his harness racing career to settle mid field early before tacking on to the back of what many expected to be his main rival in Kiwi Ingenuity with approx 900m to run.

Approaching the home turn Smokin Up and Karloo Mick looked to have the finish to themselves but it soon became apparent that Monkey King was stalking them both and powered to a narrow victory over Bettor's Strike in the second fastest ever time of 3.57.30. Smokin Up was a game 3rd just ahead of Pembrook Benny.

Seelite Windows and Doors NZ Trotting Free-For All

The $100,000 Seelite Windows and Doors NZ Trotting Free-For-All was shifted to Cup Day to allow the $250,000 Heller's Small Goods Dominion to be run three days later and was won by the very smart mare Speculate. The 8yo, a sister to Some Direction who has also been a winner on Cup Day previously, had to come from the outside of the second row draw but proved too strong for Real Deal Yankee, Running On Time and favourite Sovereignty. Speculate, who is a grand-mother after having soreness issues early on in her career, won the Group One event at only her 13th star for trainers Justin and Lynn Smith and was driven to perfection by Justin.

NRM Sires Stakes Final

The tote suggested that this year's running of the 3yo Group One classic would be a one act affair with Kotare Mach as short as $1.20 but when Beaudiene Christian galloped causing a false start and the favourite began to pull hard the complexion of the race changed dramatically.

Kotare Mach left the gate early to lead but a succession of attackers had the 3yo under pressure before the home turn with the eventual winner Sir Lincoln powering to an impressive by over 3 lengths. The Anvils were the next best being Anvil's Best Ever and Hip Hop Anvil. The winner's performance was quite outstanding having to come from the outside of the second row and sitting parked for the last 1000m. Trained by Ray Green, who has long held the colt by Mach Three in high regard it was driver Maurice McKendry's second win in the final having won it with Motoring Magic in 1993.

- Lindauer Raceday (Show Day) -

Heller's Small Goods Dominion

Springbank Richard was a dominant favourite on the tote and dominated from the front to record his third career Group One win in the $250,000 Heller Small Goods Dominion. After missing the feature trot three days earlier many expected the Phil Williamson trained 6yo to be the horse to beat and after working extremely hard for the first lap he landed in front and never relented from there. He was hotly challenged by 2nd elect Sovereignty but proved too strong in a very respectable 4-06.7. Houdini Star was a very sound 3rd with Unique Star going a great race first time in the top grade for 4th.

Woodland New Zealand Free-For All

The $250,000 Woodland's New Zealand Free-For-All was supposed to be an Auckland Reactor benefit after the super star pacer destroyed his lesser rival's in the Junior FFA on Tuesday. The Mark Purdon trained 5yo soon lead but was soon underseige from Awesome Armbro with the leaders running some very quick sectionals in front. Shortly before turning for home it was apparent the hot favourite was under pressure with first Changeover and then Tuesday's victor Monkey King blazing on by. Astutely driven again by Ricky May, Monkey King was too strong over the concluding stages registering the third fastest time ever of 2.22.4. Second was a game Nearea Franco who trailed throughout and Changeover who had enjoyed an economical trip in the one by one behind his stable mate.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Cup Day 2009 2008

Attendance 22,322 24,352

Oncourse Turnover $2,027,205 $2,168,540

Offcourse Turnover $4,051,250 $3,784,936

Lindauer Race Day

Attendance 5346 6253

Oncourse Turnover $950,440 $1,044,231

Offcourse Turnover $2,162,496 $2,070,956

RECORDS:

There were two New Zealand Records set at the carnival:

1950m Mobile All Classes record previously 2.18.3 (Stunning Cullen 2008) Auckland Reactor 2.17.8

2600m Mobile All Classes record equaling 3.08.50 (Desperate Comment 1995) Highview Tommy

CLASS RECORDS:

3200m Stand 6 win trotters record previously 4.08.9 ( Castle Van 2000) Unique Star 4.08.5

2600m Mobile 3 win pacers record previously 3.11.0 (Blue Chip Rock 2003) Raglan 3.10.2

Greg O'CONNOR

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simon at 08:04 PM 17-Nov-2009 NZT

Question??? what is the story with the monkeys Gig, are they available for sale? and why are those wheels still in use, they got barred in Aus. a whle ago, i thought they got barred in NZ as well.

Timothy Pennington at 09:10 PM 17-Nov-2009 NZT

Harness racing NZ looks very healthy after looking at the turnover and attendance over this successful carnival. Despite the world recession it is great and is showing good signs. The track curator should be congradulated for the 4 records broken. Monkey King was a highlight for me in the big one and Auckland Reactors 2.17.8 over 1950m was mind blowing. I thought the quality of horse was awesome , and to add an extra demention it was great to see some good aussies tackle the NZ feature race.I hope they try again next year as it gives the sport more attention and recognition it deserves.:

ajc at 07:48 PM 19-Nov-2009 NZT

I continue to be amazed by the volume of one sided non investigatory reporting and general uneducated emotional claptrap in the media in relation to Geoff Small and his drivers. If such litigious statements, including those made by professional representatives of the industry, were made prior to civil trial, those people would be in contempt of court..

We learn from uncorroborated reports that an owner of Auckland Reactor (ex professional boxer no less) allegedly physically and verbally abused Philip Butcher in the stables and nothing happens. Geoff small uses bad language and gets 6 months. Fairness and consistency don't exist in the Harness Racing Industry. The inner sanctum behave like Free Masons. Who checks the stipes credibility? Do they have a review process? Perhaps Paddy O'Brien needs to do a "Stu Dickensen" on some who appear to be a law unto themselves and hide behind an unregulated improperly managed system. How is it that Edward Rennell GM of Harness Racing New Zealand continually manages to involve himself publically in the judiciary process and not let it take its due course? Through his intervention he manages to polarise the racing public. Not good for the industry I suggest.

There are numerous incidences of so called team driving on record which HRNZ has failed to act on. One in particular I would challenge Geoff Small detractors, Auckland Reactor’s owners and Mark Purdon to take a look at and tell me if Mark Purdon should not have been charged under rule 869(3)(g) where he "drove in a manner which diminished the chances of his own horse (Sir Clive) from winning the event" . I refer to the 2yo Emerald’s Harness Jewels race at Cambridge on 31st May 2008 (R9) where the stable team namely Blair Orange won driving High View Tommy and where Mark Purdon from the same stable drove Sir Clive parked out at an astonishing pace for most of the race, enabling High View Tommy to run over the top of Tin Tin in America. Sir Clive faded to near last and dare I say has never been the same horse since.

If you would like to watch this race go to www.hrnz.co.nz , click Race Results/Historical Dates and enter against Search Dates: 2008/May/31st and against Club: Cambridge. Then press “submit” and click on 31st May R9. Listen carefully to the unbiased commentary especially the beginning.

Footnote to Phillip Butcher: Take this video to your hearing and ask the judiciary for consistency and there’s no chance they’ll find you guilty.

Timothy Pennington Australia at 01:31 AM 20-Nov-2009 NZT

Cmon What were your highlights. Id wish we had such a prestigious event on our shores. There are some that come close ,but NZ harness racing is the heartland of harness racing, we look up to you kiwis over here. That is where smokinup is from and our sir vancealot. You should be proud of the finest horses the world has Saucy legend the latest. We cant compare how blessed you are in NZ the best breed.

BCR at 12:03 PM 20-Nov-2009 NZT

AJC, your point in regards to Sir Clive may have some similarities, but I'd like to raise a few questions with you. Sir Clive was the top juvenile going into the race, and was also drawn barrier 4. Highview Tommy drawn 10.
Tintin in America goes straight to the lead. As did Auckland Reactor in the free for all. The differnce between the parked horses is that as the best drawn and credentialed horse in the race, sir clive was sent forward for a crack at the lead. Awesome Armbro was eased off the gate, before being sent around to give cover to a stable mate that was already parked (changeover), which completely go against the racing patterns of a noted sit sprint horse in open class company.
In the 2yo race you mention, highview tommy was able to slot into the one/one during the running through out and out good driving. Your point could not be more flawed. Every follower of harness racing knows that the top juveniles find the front , slow them up and sprint home, bullying their way to victory simply on class alone. Not one aspect of the race you mention is pre meditated.
If your such a fan of reviewing race drives, look at Auckland Reactors sires stakes race where Purdon bullies one of his own out of the race, Ohoka Arizona by moving up parked and applying pressure who subsequently drops out. The fact of the matter is Butcher's antics were pre mediated and pre conceived prior to the race. You also note that Sir Clive has never been the same since? It was known that Sir Clive suffered a leg injury as an early 3 year old, perhaps this has more to do with it then trying to find the lead in a mile race? If your theory on his subsequent performances are based on the way he was driven.... then gosh....will Awesome Armbro ever gather the strength to race again?

Keep digging through the archives, Im sure Small will have plenty of time to do so in the next 6 months? Just get a good grip of those straws you and your cobba are clutching to, because they are few and far between.

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