Aussie trotter to start NZ campaign at Cambridge this Friday

Emerging Queensland trotter Not As Promised will kick-start the Aussie harness racing raid on Cambridge when he steps out in Friday night’s $60,000 Group 2 Waikato Trotters’ Flying Mile.

The 2023 Australian 3YO Trotter of the Year was scratched from Albion Park last night so he can  fly from Sydney to Auckland today (Sunday).

“We’re deliberately going early so he can have a look at the track and have more time to settle in,” trainer Graham Dwyer said.

“He didn’t travel as well as we hoped when he took him to Christchurch at the end of 2023, but settled better with time, so we’ve got that in mind.”

Not As Promised missed all of 2024 with injury, but has returned in terrific style with six wins and a second from eight starts this season.

“We’re really happy with him,” Dwyer said. “I’m sure he’s come better, but whether that’s good enough to win a race like this (TAB Trot) is something we’ll just have to find out.

“We were keen to give it a go and it’s great to have a slot.”

Regular driver Nathan Dawson, Australia’s premier driver in 2023, will make the trip across.

“Nathan will drive him this week, then have some time in the South Island, before coming back for the big one,” Dwyer said.

The pacing bred Not As Promised has raced just 24 times for 15 wins, six placings and banked $181,320.

His major wins came at three in the Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby and Breeders Crown double.

Not As Promised then ran a huge fourth in the NZ Trotting Derby won by Sunnys Sister after enduring a torrid run.

The gelding continues to race in the trust and memory of his late owner Tony Veivers, who lost a long battle with bowel cancer late last year.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand