Victoria to lead a New Zealand Cup week raid

Victorians will lead Australia’s biggest harness racing attack yet on the iconic New Zealand Cup Week.

Champion trotter Just Believe (Orlando Vici) is one of a possible eight Victorian horses who will cross the ditch to race at Addington on November 12 and/or 15. Throw in NSW and Queensland and there could be 12 Aussies competing.

Just Believe, who won all four NZ starts earlier this year, will return for the $NZ400,000 Group 1 Dominion Trot on November 12. He will back-up three days later in the $NZ100,000 Group 1 NZ Trotting Free-For-All.

Just Believe’s trainer Jess Tubbs will have three, maybe even four NZ raiders with Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse and tough trotter One Over All joining the brigade.

One Over All booked his ticket when he grabbed the eye in a scorching last half when a terrific second to Keayang Chucky at Melton last Saturday night.

There is growing speculation Tubbs’ Victorian Derby finalist, Hes From A Heaven, is close to landing a slot in the inaugural $NZ500,000 The Velocity at Addington on November 15.

Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) will head to the $NZ1mil NZ Cup on November 12 and the $NZ200,000 NZ Free-For-All three days later.

Another three Victorians are also headed to Christchurch, providing the next two weeks go well.

Freakish three year-old trotter Keayang Zahara (Volstead), who made it 10 wins from as many starts at Maryborough yesterday, has snared a slot and is dominant favourite for the inaugural $NZ500,000 The Ascent on November 15.

Andy Gath expects to be at Addington, it’s more a matter of which horses go with him.

Catch A Wave’s (Captaintreacherous) blood test revealed a “slight virus” when disappointing in the Victoria Cup. He’s bounced back and looks “almost certain” to head across for the “Junior” free-for-all on Cup Day and the NZ Free-For-All on the Friday.

It’s more a wait and see with Callmethebreeze (Trixton), while Im Ready Jet (Quaker Jet) is still a chance, too.

“I’m pushing on as though Catch A Wave and Callmethebreeze are going, but they’ll both trial next Tuesday and race that Saturday (November 2). Catch A Wave should be fine, but Callmethebreeze will need to please us in that race,” Gath said.

“If Callmethebreeze doesn’t go, then I’d say Im Ready Jet would go.”

Former Kiwi trainer Brent Lilley is also taking his handy trotter Kyvallley Hotshot across to NZ. He could open his campaign at Kaikoura on November 4.

Throw in the interstaters and there could be a dozen Aussies at Addington.

It is looking increasingly likely Australia’s champion pacer Leap To Fame (Bettor’s Delight) will head to NZ for the first time after a roller coaster 10 days.

The Queensland megastar has recovered quickly and well from a virus which forced him out of last Saturday week’s Victoria Cup at Melton.

And he pleased trainer-driver Grant Dixon when fast-worked for the first time at Menangle last Friday.

Leap To Fame will tackle a 2300m free-for-all at Menangle on Saturday night here a good performance will see him jump on a November 3 plane.

The five-year-old will likely then cap his preparation by contesting the traditional “Cup Trial” at Addington on November 5.

It would be the first time the “Larry (Leap To Fame) and Harry (Just Believe) Show” has gone to NZ as a package deal.

Two Aussie all-time greats of their gaits flying the country’s flag at NZ’s biggest race day of any code.

Leap To Fame will be trying to become just the third Aussie-trained pacer since 1987 to beat the Kiwis in the NZ Cup.

But his older half-brother Swayzee did it just last year.

Although Swayzee won’t return, his trainer Jason Grimson plans to with one, maybe two Cup runners.

The “lock” is recent stable addition Major Moth, while the consistent Nerano could accompany him if Grimson thinks he will make the cut for a berth in the Cup.

Another Queenslander, talented trotter Gus, is also booked a flight across for trainer Chantal Turpin despite galloping a couple of times when he returned from a break at Albion Park last Saturday night.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Victoria