FIRST RANKINGS RELEASED FOR NOVEMBER FEATURES
THE Addington/HRNZ Ranking Committee had a busy time on Wednesday, August 26, dealing to two sets of rankings for the first time at its initial meeting for 2015.
NZ Cup rankings as at August 26.
1. Christen Me
2. Arden Rooney
3. Smolda
4. Franco Nelson
Saveapatrol, an Overport Lodge nominee for the New Zealand Cup. (Trish Dunell photo).
5. Franco Ledger
6. Sky Major
7. Ohoka Punter
8. Tiger Tara
9. Corzin Terror
10. Easy On The Eye
11. Venus Serena
12. Lancewood Lizzie
13. Mossdale Conner
14. Forever Gold
15. Jason Rulz
16. Belkmyster
17. Te Kawau
18. Dalton Bromac
19. Alleluia
20. Messini
21. Bit Of A Legend
22. Saveapatrol
23. Choise Achiever
24. Mach Beauty
25. Chancellor Cullen
26. Brilliant Strike
27. Quick As A Trick
28. Lewy Risk
29. Jivin Cullen
30. Ideal Success
31. Mighty Flying Mac
32. Mach’s Gladiator
33. Ballindooley
34. Bettor Dream
35. No Doctor Needed
36. Major Bubbles
37. Delightful Dash
38. Major Star
39. Provocative Prince
40. Zakspatrol
Horses shall be ranked in the following descending order:
Winner 2014 New Zealand Trotting Cup – Adore Me (Retired).
Winner 2015 Auckland Cup – Christen Me.
Winner 2015 Inter Dominion Final- Beautide (Not nominated).
Winner 2015 Maurice Holmes Vase – To be held September 4.
Winner 2015 Avon City Ford Cup – To be held September 25.
Winner, 2nd, 3rd 2015 Canterbury Classic – To be held October 9.
Then competitiveness and performance in this seasons Group races leading up to the 2015 NZ Cup.
The competitiveness and performance in previous seasons Group races.
The competitiveness and performance in non black type races this season.
Dominion Handicap rankings, as at August 26
1. Jaccka Justy
2. Stent
3. Sheemon
Master Lavros, looking for a second Dominion Handicap triumph for trainer Mark Jones in November.
4. Master Lavros
5. Used To Me
6. Kincaslough
7. Alley Way
8. Vincennes
9. One Over Da Moon
10. Jag’s Invasion
11. King Denny
12. Habibti
13. Daryl Boko
14. Clover Don
15. Prime Power
16. Realmein
17. Kyvalley Blur
18. Maori Time
19. Springbank Sam
20. Speeding Spur
21. Royal Aspirations
22. Overanova
23. Boizel
24. Valmagne
25. Cool Cobber
26. Uncas
27. Monbet
28. Majestic Time
29. Quite A Moment
30. Escapee
31. Harrysul
32. Live The Dream
33. Sol Invictus
34. Al Bundy
35. Leanne’s Boy
36. Monty Python
37. Waterloo Sunset
38. Wingsonhai
39. Prestine
Horses shall be ranked in the following descending order:
Winner 2014 Dominion Trot – Jaccka Justy.
Winner 2015 Rowe Cup – Stent.
Winner 2015 Ordeal Cup – To be held September 11.
Winner 2015 Canterbury Park Trotting Cup – To be held October 9.
Winner, 2nd, 3rd 2015 Trotting Free-For-All – To be held November 10.
Then competitiveness and performance in this seasons Group races leading up to the 2015 Dominion Trot.
The competitiveness and performance in previous seasons Group races
The competitiveness and performance in non black type races this season.
In a rare situation, a marked increase in Australian and international nominations made comparing the various merits of horses more difficult, but it is exciting to see so many varied form-lines coming together for races like the Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup and Hellers Dominion.
The NZ Trotting Cup rankings are headed by last season’s ‘Horse of the Year’ Christen Me, with Australian nomination and Hunter Cup winner Arden Rooney at two, being the top ranked visitor.
While the NZ Cup is missing stars such as Adore Me and Terror To Love, a new guard is set to take their place. The committee was impressed with the overall depth and quality of those nominated, which suggests an intriguing spring build-up is in store. There is the potential to have a large group of quality up-and-comers clambering for spots in the lead-up to harness racing’s great race.
In the Dominion, defending champion Jaccka Justy heads the list, just ahead of Trotter of the Year, Stent and the ever-present Sheemon. An exciting aspect is the addition of two well-performed European trotters. This is sure to add a significant edge to the Dominion and its lead-up.
Ranking the Hellers Dominion proved to be an interesting process for the committee. Addington Racing Manager Brian Rabbit explains; “It’s tremendous having the international flavour adding to the Dominion. The Australian nominations are well credentialed, which is great for the potential depth of the race but that also gave us some headaches.”
“The trickiest part for the committee was weighing up the two European horses, Used To Me and Daryl Boko. Both have competed very well in the hotbed of European trotting. Used To Me is a proven top-level type performer in France, while Daryl Boko ran third when favourite in the Finnish Derby last year, a Group 1 race worth 221,000 Euros and brings over solid Swedish form.”
“We had to exercise discretion for the European pair, as they clearly fall outside of what the ranking criteria was introduced to cover.”
The connections of smart trotter Boizel have made a Late Payment to nominate and he now takes the total number of Hellers Dominion nominations to 39.
The next set of rankings will be released following a committee meeting on Tuesday September 8, following the Maurice Holmes Vase on September 4.
Story and rankings courtesy of HRNZ.