Two of the greatest races in New Zealand harness racing will be held on Tuesday at Addington. Run on the same day, The New Zealand Cup and Dominion Handicap are steeped in history.
The three biggest winning margins since 1941 in the New Zealand Cup were Lazarus by ten lengths in 2016, Steel Jaw in nine and a half lengths in 1983 and False Stepās winning margin was eight lengths in 1959.
The biggest winning margins in the Dominion Handicap since 1941 have been Durban Chief by nine lengths in 1958, Habibti Inta seven and a half lengths in 2019 and Great Venture (1948) and Vodka (1953) both by five lengths.
In the last 109 runnings of the New Zealand Cup, 26 favourites have won the great race, whilst over the same period 25 favourites have won the Dominion Handicap. The last two favourites to win were Copy That (New Zealand Cup) and Sundees Son (Dominion) both in 2022.
The shortest winning dividend in the New Zealand Cup was $1.40 paid out after Lazarus won the 2017 edition. Other short priced winners were Christian Cullen $1.90 in 1998 and Iraklis $1.95 in 1997.
The shortest priced win dividend paid out for a Dominion winner was $1.00 when Take A Moment deadheated with Martina H in 2002. Other short priced winners of the Dominion were; I Can Doosit $1.20 in 2012, Lyell Creek $1.25 in 2000, Take A Moment (2003) and Monbet (2016) who both paid $1.40 to win.
The current race record for the Dominion of 3-56.6 is held by 2021 winner Sundees Son while the New Zealand Cup record of 3-53.1 is held by 2016 winner Lazarus.
Anthony Butt with nine wins in the Dominion is currently the leading driver in the race. Between 1999 and 2004 Butt won all six of the trotting features – three times each with Take A Moment and Lyell Creek.
The drivers to win the most New Zealand Cup races are Ricky May (7) and Mark Purdon and Cecil Devine (6).
The last driver to win the New Zealand Cup/Dominion Handicap in the same year was Blair Orange driving Habibti Inta and Cruz Bromac in 2019. Others to achieve this feat were Ricky May with Monkey King and Stylish Monarch in 2010, Anthony Butt in 2007 with Flashing Red and Mountbatten, Jack Smolenski with Arapaho and Philemon in 1973 and Scotty Bryce driving Cathedral Chimes in the Cup and Whispering Willie in the Dominion in 1916.
Yulestar in 2000 was the first pacer to break the 4-00.0 mark in the 3200 metre New Zealand Cup when he recorded 3-59.1. while Sundees Sonās 3-56.6 in the 2021 Dominion was the first time the 4-00.0 mark had been lowered for the trotting feature.
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink