November 11, 2024 • 6 mins
The 2024 New Zealand Trotting Cup is set to get under way at Christchurch's Addington Raceway tomorrow.
TAB expert Matt Smith joined Piney to explore what fans can expect.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The richest race of New Zealand Cup week is tomorrow's
one million dollar New Zealand Trolling Cup at Addington. Let's
bring in harness racing expert from the TAB, Matt Smith. Matt,
thanks for joining us on the eve of this of
this big day at Addington. How big a day is
this on the New Zealand Racing calendar for I guess
for horse racing enthusiasts, but also for the TAB.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, hi, Jason, you like it's a massive day. It's
traditionally in the last few years been the second biggest
day of the year behind the Melbourne Cup itself, so
domestically it is right up there. We've had of been
a competition at the start of the year in the
crack of millions meeting, But yeah, Addington and New Zealand
Trotting Cup days on the as I started right up there.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Now, talk to me about the field because it seems
to me as though there's been a lot of back
and forth as far as this field is concerned. Can
you unpack this for us?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
It starts out with nominations several months ago and everything
was kind of going along swowingly. He had a few
nominations from Australia, which is fantastic to see. There's an
amazing horse called Lead to Fame who was in the field.
He's won forty four of us fifty five starts, but
he's just had a couple of issues just in the
(01:24):
last week or so. So when it looked like he
might be in a little bit of doubt, last year's
a winner. Swazy his connections Actually Lates nominated for the race,
which was I think was a five figure costs to
actually nominate late for the race. Leap to Fame has
gone out, Swayzey's in, and so that's kind of changed
(01:44):
the whole confection of the race actually to be fair,
because Leap to Fame was drawn to get away from
the front row and make things very interesting and now yeah,
things have been turned upside down a little bit.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
So in overall terms, then how strong is the field?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Very strong? Yeah, I think as Leap to Fame was
in there, it's probably one of the strongest cups for
fifteen twenty years. I think it's still right up way,
especially when you have last week, last year's when Aeru
in Swaysey, Maryland, who's the leading New Zealand chants, He's
probably going to get in front of Swayze early on,
which will make things quite interesting. And as I mentioned,
there's a couple of other osis and they're better at clips,
(02:21):
are very consistent. Obyesty won the Auckland Cup back in May,
and yeah, then you've filled us through a store at a
number of New Zealand chances. Don't stop, don't stop dreaming.
Republican Party could run a bit of a race at
odds too, So yeah, I think the depth is definitely
there this year.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Do you think there's any sense of a Trains and
Tasman rivalry when it comes to you to a day.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Like this, it's probably it is probably where harness raising
is probably a slight advantage over the Thuribrig race in
New Zealand in so much as Australians don't mind coming
over having to go and grabbing our money, we actually
do that quite a bit with the racers over there
too often. Now trotters have have the edge on the
on the Australian trotters, which ironically isn't the case this year,
(03:04):
which I might touch on shortly, but yeah, it's certainly,
it's definitely it's the flavored. It's more betting in the
pubs and clubs over in Australia on the day too,
so there's plenty you like about that.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Matte.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
What do you think the attraction of harness racing is,
I don't know, I get you know, Melbourne cap obviously racing, trotting.
What do you think the attraction is.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
It's probably a little bit more tactical. Most of the
race is a minimum of one mile, and you probably
have more races where you're going as said, from one
mile through the twenty four hundred meters twenty six hundred
meters and this year's well at the Trolling Cup every
year is threey and two hundred meters and because the
tracks are a little bit smaller competer thur, you do
(03:50):
see a lot more moved throm mid race, so it
does become quite a tactical fear, and you know, you
might think your horse is in a bad spot than
four hundred meters later in a good spot, So that's
one of the things for me. It's traditionally been a big,
big racing code down in Cannabury as well, and even
Southend is producing many some great champions over the years,
like Cardigan Bay, which some of your older listeners may recall,
(04:13):
and also the likes the young Quinn. So it's certainly
got a strength in the cannavary in southern regions and
also a little bit in the white kaddow too.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
All right, you made to give us, give us a
pick or two and maybe a roughie as well variety.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Well, once left Famer had come out, we had Merlin
and Swaseey fighting out favoritism, but all the money has
very much comfort Swayzey. Now, if he can get in
front of Milan, let's say, with a lap and a
half two laps out, it could dar i s Abu raceover.
Mirland is a very good sprinter when he gets a
little bit of cover too. But I'm gonna be a
(04:48):
little bit loyal stick with Merlin. I think hopefully he
can make a little bit difficult for Swayzey to get
to the front. So yeah, Meryland should probably be hovering
around just over that three dollar mark. Lean into the race,
and I think for a bit of a place money
you're probably looking at the number for Muwanga, fantastically named
(05:08):
of course, who probably should get near the markers as
they stay just on the inside of a little bit
of cover and should be kicking on hopefully into into
a top three or top four spot. There's just one
more that we're a little bit worried about here. Beach
Ball has taken a whole lot of money, so we
will be a little bit nervous if beach Ball starts
(05:29):
to loom on the turn. That's number sixteen, and currently
he's at one hundred and ones. So yeah, we're nervous,
but not too nervous, shall we say?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
All right, a big day in prospect tomorrow. I think
it jumps about what five forty six?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Did I see? Yeah, that's right, yep, eleven of twelve.
Another big races on the card. We've got Dominion trot which,
as I mentioned, a big outstanding noussey trotter, and that
called just believe he's at about a dollar twenty or
a dollar thirty somewhere around that. And yeah, two other
group ones on the day, so absolutely massive days should
be fifteen twenty thousand people on course absolutely loving it.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Brilliant stuff man, And now it's a big day in
christ Jas. Thanks for for calling in mate Matt Smith
out of the tab with a bit of a preview
of the New Zealand Trolling Cup tomorrow goes at five
point forty six tomorrow afternoon. Year massive week in christ
Ytch Hope. Everybody down there is gearing up for a
big day at Addington tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The richest race of New Zealand Cup week is tomorrow's
one million dollar New Zealand Trolling Cup at Addington. Let's
bring in harness racing expert from the TAB, Matt Smith. Matt,
thanks for joining us on the eve of this of
this big day at Addington. How big a day is
this on the New Zealand Racing calendar for I guess
for horse racing enthusiasts, but also for the TAB.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, hi, Jason, you like it's a massive day. It's
traditionally in the last few years been the second biggest
day of the year behind the Melbourne Cup itself, so
domestically it is right up there. We've had of been
a competition at the start of the year in the
crack of millions meeting, But yeah, Addington and New Zealand
Trotting Cup days on the as I started right up there.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Now, talk to me about the field because it seems
to me as though there's been a lot of back
and forth as far as this field is concerned. Can
you unpack this for us?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
It starts out with nominations several months ago and everything
was kind of going along swowingly. He had a few
nominations from Australia, which is fantastic to see. There's an
amazing horse called Lead to Fame who was in the field.
He's won forty four of us fifty five starts, but
he's just had a couple of issues just in the
(01:24):
last week or so. So when it looked like he
might be in a little bit of doubt, last year's
a winner. Swazy his connections Actually Lates nominated for the race,
which was I think was a five figure costs to
actually nominate late for the race. Leap to Fame has
gone out, Swayzey's in, and so that's kind of changed
(01:44):
the whole confection of the race actually to be fair,
because Leap to Fame was drawn to get away from
the front row and make things very interesting and now yeah,
things have been turned upside down a little bit.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
So in overall terms, then how strong is the field?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Very strong? Yeah, I think as Leap to Fame was
in there, it's probably one of the strongest cups for
fifteen twenty years. I think it's still right up way,
especially when you have last week, last year's when Aeru
in Swaysey, Maryland, who's the leading New Zealand chants, He's
probably going to get in front of Swayze early on,
which will make things quite interesting. And as I mentioned,
there's a couple of other osis and they're better at clips,
(02:21):
are very consistent. Obyesty won the Auckland Cup back in May,
and yeah, then you've filled us through a store at a
number of New Zealand chances. Don't stop, don't stop dreaming.
Republican Party could run a bit of a race at
odds too, So yeah, I think the depth is definitely
there this year.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Do you think there's any sense of a Trains and
Tasman rivalry when it comes to you to a day.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Like this, it's probably it is probably where harness raising
is probably a slight advantage over the Thuribrig race in
New Zealand in so much as Australians don't mind coming
over having to go and grabbing our money, we actually
do that quite a bit with the racers over there
too often. Now trotters have have the edge on the
on the Australian trotters, which ironically isn't the case this year,
(03:04):
which I might touch on shortly, but yeah, it's certainly,
it's definitely it's the flavored. It's more betting in the
pubs and clubs over in Australia on the day too,
so there's plenty you like about that.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Matte.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
What do you think the attraction of harness racing is,
I don't know, I get you know, Melbourne cap obviously racing, trotting.
What do you think the attraction is.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
It's probably a little bit more tactical. Most of the
race is a minimum of one mile, and you probably
have more races where you're going as said, from one
mile through the twenty four hundred meters twenty six hundred
meters and this year's well at the Trolling Cup every
year is threey and two hundred meters and because the
tracks are a little bit smaller competer thur, you do
(03:50):
see a lot more moved throm mid race, so it
does become quite a tactical fear, and you know, you
might think your horse is in a bad spot than
four hundred meters later in a good spot, So that's
one of the things for me. It's traditionally been a big,
big racing code down in Cannabury as well, and even
Southend is producing many some great champions over the years,
like Cardigan Bay, which some of your older listeners may recall,
(04:13):
and also the likes the young Quinn. So it's certainly
got a strength in the cannavary in southern regions and
also a little bit in the white kaddow too.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
All right, you made to give us, give us a
pick or two and maybe a roughie as well variety.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Well, once left Famer had come out, we had Merlin
and Swaseey fighting out favoritism, but all the money has
very much comfort Swayzey. Now, if he can get in
front of Milan, let's say, with a lap and a
half two laps out, it could dar i s Abu raceover.
Mirland is a very good sprinter when he gets a
little bit of cover too. But I'm gonna be a
(04:48):
little bit loyal stick with Merlin. I think hopefully he
can make a little bit difficult for Swayzey to get
to the front. So yeah, Meryland should probably be hovering
around just over that three dollar mark. Lean into the race,
and I think for a bit of a place money
you're probably looking at the number for Muwanga, fantastically named
(05:08):
of course, who probably should get near the markers as
they stay just on the inside of a little bit
of cover and should be kicking on hopefully into into
a top three or top four spot. There's just one
more that we're a little bit worried about here. Beach
Ball has taken a whole lot of money, so we
will be a little bit nervous if beach Ball starts
(05:29):
to loom on the turn. That's number sixteen, and currently
he's at one hundred and ones. So yeah, we're nervous,
but not too nervous, shall we say?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
All right, a big day in prospect tomorrow. I think
it jumps about what five forty six?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Did I see? Yeah, that's right, yep, eleven of twelve.
Another big races on the card. We've got Dominion trot which,
as I mentioned, a big outstanding noussey trotter, and that
called just believe he's at about a dollar twenty or
a dollar thirty somewhere around that. And yeah, two other
group ones on the day, so absolutely massive days should
be fifteen twenty thousand people on course absolutely loving it.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Brilliant stuff man, And now it's a big day in
christ Jas. Thanks for for calling in mate Matt Smith
out of the tab with a bit of a preview
of the New Zealand Trolling Cup tomorrow goes at five
point forty six tomorrow afternoon. Year massive week in christ
Ytch Hope. Everybody down there is gearing up for a
big day at Addington tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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