Re-jig for this week’s Cup and Dominion rankings

Key lead-up races the Holmes D G and the Methven Cup have prompted a big change in this week’s harness racing rankings for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, to be held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11.

Sooner The Bettor became the sixth horse to automatically qualify for the $1m NZ Cup with his win in the Holmes D G at Alexandra Park on Friday night while Better Knuckle Up has been rewarded for his third placing to go for 21st to 17.

Better Knuckle Up was the inaugural winner of last year’s THE VELOCITY slot race at Addington. He completed a Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained trifecta in the Holmes DG with Merlin finishing second.

Further south Rakero Rocket solidified his 11th place in the rankings with his win in Sunday’s Methven Cup while the fast finishing runner-up Wag Star has been a big mover – up six places from 25th to 19, just four places outside the cut-off.

After finishing fourth in the Methven Cup, American Me has improved two places to 13th. He was fourth in the 2023 New Zealand Cup as well.

Both the Holmes D G and Methven Cup had Group 3 status.

The top 10 in the rankings for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot remain unchanged this week though there has been some manoeuvring just behind them, especially from two Australian contenders.

Jilliby Ballerini has improved seven places to 12th on the back of her win at the Group 3 Australasian Trotters Championship at Melton beating a quality field that included Arcee Phoenix. She is now a $6 third favourite for the Dominion behind Oscar Bonavena and Bet N Win.

The other trotter heading up the rankings this week is Parisian Artiste following his 15th career win at Menangle on Saturday night. He has gone from 14th to 11th.

The rankings will be updated weekly with the final rankings coming out after the Kaikoura Cup meeting on Monday, November 3.

To see the latest rankings click here 

From Harness Racing New Zealand