Don’t write Corzin Terror off

Corzin Terror is not Addington's favourite "Terror" but plenty of Kiwis will be behind Amanda Grieve on Tuesday.

As a child growing up in Christchurch, Grieve was captivated by the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Her dreams of lining up a runner in the race will become reality on Tuesday when Australian pacer Corzin Terror contests the $750,000 Group I Cup over 3200m.

Grieve works for leading Victorian trainer Dean Braun and has travelled home to mentor Corzin Terror, who she holds a share in.

She has spent time living on both sides of the Tasman but is adamant she is a Kiwi and there is no doubt surrounding what her dream race would be.

"When Corzin Terror ran in the Inter Dominion that was a massive thing for me but everyone dreams of wining a New Zealand Cup.

"It's like the Kiwis' Melbourne Cup because the nation stops but you may as well say it stops Australasia because everyone in racing in Australia watches it," Grieve said.

Tuesday looms as a proud day for Grieve and her family.

Proud parents Paul and Katie are flying in from Melbourne and grandfather Wally Grieve will make the trip up from Ashburton.

Corzin Terror arrived in Braun's stable back in 2012 after winning five races from 26 starts for the Colin and Julie DeFilippi barn in Canterbury.

But he is best known to Kiwis for beating three-time New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Terror To Love in the Ballarat Cup last season when it was reduced to just four runners.

At the time, Grieve, 27, was training Braun's team as he was suspended due to one of his runners testing positive for the prohibited substances phenylbutazone and oxphenbutazone.

The Ballarat Cup was her first Group I win but what should have been a magical moment was tainted with controversy.

Grieve said it was hard to celebrate when the crowd were booing before and after the race due to several runners being scratched late because their sulkies were too wide.

Despite the circumstances, Grieve said it was still crazy to see her name next to the previous winning trainers.

"I never thought I would be in that position. It's still hard to think I was a Group I winner," she said.

"There was only four in the race but people forget that he still ran home in a 53 second half, that's the thing people forget."

An $81 chance to win the Cup on Tuesday, bookmakers have all but written Corzin Terror off, even if Grieve has not.

She said Corzin Terror has thrived on the sand at Mark Jones' Woodend Beach operation. 

"The distance suits him down to the ground and he is usually pretty good at stepping away."

She believes Corzin Terror, or Im Corzin Terror as he is known in Australia, did not get the rub of the green last season, especially with barrier draws.

"He went better than people realise last season, he definitely deserves the trip over here."

Corzin Terror won the Maryborough Cup and flashed home late to run second to Guranteed in the Kilmore Cup.

"Everyone was talking about Guaranteed's run and he did go great but they forget what Corzin Terror can do," Grieve said.

If Corzin Terror cannot win the Cup, Grieve would love to see her former employer Tony Herlihy win it with Ohoka Punter.

Grieve moved to Melbourne when she was still at school but moved back in 2005 to work for Herlihy.

She spent nine-and-a-half years with Herlihy before moving back to Australia around two-and-a-half years ago because her father was seriously ill.

Grieve spent countless hours with the "pretty special" Ohoka Punter before she moved to Australia, including his brilliant 3-year-old season.

Mat Kermeen

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