Key changes for New Brighton and Ordeal Cup fields

Two key changes from the last New Zealand Cup lead-up to the next at Addington on Friday could have a huge impact on the result.

The Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup is the next major Cup lead-up this Friday and the conditions look similar, a 2600m standing start with plenty of the same harness racing names as the Allied Security Maurice Holmes Vase won by Dalton Shard (Always B Miki) two weeks ago.

But there are two big differences.

One is the return of former age group star Sherlock, who was backed in from $5 to $3.50 favouritism as soon as the market opened on Tuesday.

And the other major change is the handicaps, with Ohoka Connor and B D Joe moving up from starting on the 10m mark in the Maurice Holmes Vase to being on the front line on Friday night.

With both open class pacing races at Addington in the last two weeks being dominated by those handy and on the marker pegs that could be crucial if the Team Telfer pair can step on terms with the army of Diamond Racing (Team Dunn) horses in the field.

The winner of the New Brighton Cup will qualify for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington on Tuesday, November 12 while the winner of Friday’s other feature, the Hickman Family Ordeal Cup will be guaranteed a start in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot.

The Ordeal also sees some handicapping differences from the last time many of these met, when Mighty Logan was able to beat stablemate Sunnys Sister in a mobile 1980m.

They are part of a far bigger field on Friday and while the step up to 2600m should suit Sunnys Sister she does go back on to a 10m handicap, no easy assignment in a near capacity field.

She still opened $4.50 favourite in a field that sees Paul Nairn step last-start winners Confessional and Tectonic into the big time.

To see Friday’s Addington fields click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand