Major changes in this week’s Cup rankings

Last year’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup winning trainer Jason Grimson won’t defend his title this year following the withdrawal of his two remaining contenders, Major Moth (Art Major) and Nerano (Tintin In America).

The pair ran way below their best in a free-for-all behind Aussie champion Leap To Fame at Menangle last Saturday night and will be freshened ahead of the up-coming NSW Inter Dominion series.

Grimson had earlier ruled out defending NZ Cup champion Swayzee.

Leap To Fame, a $1.55 favourite for the country’s biggest race on Tuesday November 12, will lead the Australian charge along with Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse.

Talented Aussie-owned pacer Rock N Roll Doo has also been withdrawn after failing to fire in Monday’s NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes.

Those defections have seen the New Zealand Cup leaderboard take on a very different look this week.

Mo’unga and Australian pacer Aroda have both moved up six places as a result.  Mo’unga has gone from  22nd to 16th after winning the main pace, the Alan Gibson Handicap, at Addington last Friday night. The Regan Todd-trained pacer started like a rocket from his 20m mark, leading all the way before going clear by two lengths. He is still one place away from securing a start.

Aroda is now in the field at 15th,  after winning at Albion Park in Brisbane on Saturday night,  while withdrawals have seen  Beach Ball go from 16th to 14th.  There are some other minimum re-shuffles inside the top 15, with the top seven places unchanged from last week.

In this week’s rankings for the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot, also on Tuesday November 12, Fiery Bandito is the main talking point.

The Kirstin Green trained and driven Fiery Bandito was a brave second behind rising star Bet N Win in the Group 3 What The What Ashburton Trotters Sprint at Ashburton on Monday after being parked for the majority of the race.

The Majestic Son five-year-old has subsequently gone from 21st to 14th in the rankings and inside the cut off.

Maui, who finished fourth in the same race, has also improved significantly, from 24th to 18th.

The two withdrawals this week were Tectonic and Australian-based trotter Gus.

The final rankings will be released following next Monday’s Kaikoura Cup meeting.

To view them, click here.

From Harness Racing New Zealand