New Zealand Cup Stage Set for Graduates

Superstar pacers Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) and Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) head New Zealand’s hopes in the $1,000,000 Group One New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Addington on Tuesday.

The NZB Standardbred graduates will renew their longstanding rivalry and attempt to keep the New Zealand Cup in its homeland.

The powerful pairing are among a stellar line up of New Zealand Cup talent that has passed through the NZB Standardbred sales ring before going on to racetrack stardom.

Merlin comes into the New Zealand Cup after edging out Don’t Stop Dreaming to win the New Zealand Cup’s most noted lead up event, the Group Two Ashburton Flying Stakes (2400m).

The pacer will test his mettle at 3200m for the first time on Tuesday and it is a challenge trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan think he is right up for.

“It is going to be a strongly run race the whole way and he is going to need to be on his game,” Phelan said.

“But we are pretty sure he will be.”

Don’t Stop Dreaming went down fighting in a bold Ashburton Stakes second placing.

The pacer will be out to clinch Mark Purdon a ninth New Zealand Cup training win and his training partner and son Nathan his first.

And Nathan thinks he can do exactly that.

“He has got the class to win the race, if he gets the chance with everything going smoothly he is every bit as good as anything in the field.”

Republican Party is another genuine threat among the star-studded line up of NZB Standardbred graduates to start in the New Zealand Cup.

The pacer brings strong lead up form to the event he ran a strong fifth in last year for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety.

“We go into the race confident we have a horse that is very competitive if he gets any luck come his way,” Cran Dalgety said.

“We won’t say we are better than anyone else, but we know we wouldn’t back down to anyone either.”

Mo’unga (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) stamped himself as a New Zealand Cup force with his big win in last week’s Group Two Kaikoura Cup (2400m).

Trainer Regan Todd has plenty to look forward to given he trains and part owns the brilliant pacer.

“With the way he won with a bit in hand at Kaikoura we had to have a go at the cup.”
“He’s only been racing for eighteen months so he’s a bit of a baby really but he deserves his shot.”

Though he’s New Zealand-born and bred and an NZB Standardbred graduate, Aroda (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) will represent Australia in Tuesday’s great race.

The Queensland-based and owned pacer touched down in Christchurch on settled in well according to his camp.

Fellow NZB Standardbred graduates Charlie Brown (NZ) (Art Major), Dalton Shard (NZ) (Always B Miki) and Alta Meteor (NZ) (Mach Three) add depth to what should be a scintillating edition of the New Zealand Cup, which will be run at 5.46pm New Zealand time.

 

Horse	Breeding	Vendor	Sale	Buyer	Price
Aroda	Art Major - Adore To Our Dreams Bay Colt	Broadfield Lodge	2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch	Passed In	$70,000
Charlie Brown	Art Major - Gold Elite Bay Colt	Hollis & Robertson Equine Services	2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch	Diamond Racing Auckland	$75,000
Mo'unga	Bettor's Delight - O Baby Bay Colt	Breckon Farms Ltd	2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Auckland	PI & GJ Kennard Bloodstock Ltd Canterbury	$100,000
Don't Stop Dreaming	Bettor's Delight - Start Dreaming Bay Colt	Studholme Bloodstock Ltd	2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch	All Stars Racing Stables Canterbury	$250,000
Merlin	Art Major - Imaginary Bet Bay Colt	Broadfield Lodge	2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch	Montana Park P/L Queensland	$120,000
Republican Party	Bettor's Delight - Democrat Party Bay Colt	Price Bloodstock	2020 National Yearling Sale	Cran Dalgety Canterbury	$210,000
Dalton Shard	Always B Miki - All Time Glory Bay Colt	Shard Farm	2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch	Diamond Racing Auckland	$67,500
Alta Meteor	Art Major - Alchemist Bay Colt	Alabar (NZ) Ltd	2020 All Age Sale	Stonewall Stud Auckland	$25,000