Tough harness racing pacer Classie Brigade has booked himself a New Zealand Cup berth by winning his second Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington tonight.

Trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn nabbed a Bettor’s Delight siring quinella in the race when Henry Hubert (Bettor’s Delight) ran up the passing lane only just failing to pick up the stablemate Classie Brigade (Bettor’s Delight) who won the race by a 1/2 head at the finish.

In the race driver John Dunn shot Classie Brigade straight to the lead from the standing start 2600m and proceeded to run a sedate mile rate of 2-04, ending with a blistering last half of 54.7 seconds, making it tough for the chances of the horses behind him to make much of an impression in the straight.

John Dunn had a good night in the sulky winning five races with the only surprise being he did not get a win with top trotter Sundees Son, the shortest priced favourite of the night.

Sundees Son got back early and never showed his blazing speed when it mattered in the straight battling on for third almost two lengths from the winner Vacation Hill who went a top race fresh up!