New Zealand Cup weight scale points to Who Knows
Dennis Ryan - Raceform • November 14th, 2025 3:00 PM • 3 min read
Irish expat Niall Quinn realises the cards have fallen the way of his stable star Who Knows with the revised weight scale for Saturday’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup.
Now he figures it’s up to his conditioning skills to have the talented mare primed for the race that has been her target since last season.
In a graphic illustration of the nuances of ratings-based handicapping, Wellington Cup winner Wolfgang’s late entry for the $450,000 staying feature has forced a massive compression of the handicap. So much so, the Matamata gelding’s 99 rating places him as clear topweight on 59 kilos, while all other runners have been weighted at 54.
Until trainers Peter and Shaun McKay decided to pay the $10,600 late fee after Wolfgang’s last-start return to form, the list of Cup nominations ranged in rating from Who Knows at 92 down to 65, which would have meant a handicap spread of 58 to 53 kilos.
But to avoid a scenario where jockey engagements might be compromised by all but one runner being so lowly weighted, last week NZTR handicapper Bruce Sherwin announced that the revised weight spread would be 59 to 54 kilos.
None of this has been lost on Quinn, which has sparked a whole new anxiety setting in the mind of the 32-year-old who arrived in New Zealand a dozen years ago to try his luck as a jumps jockey.
“We were quite panicked to begin with thinking she was going to end up topweight, that definitely wasn’t part of the plan,” Quinn admitted on Tuesday afternoon from Wellington while awaiting boarding instructions on the Interislander ferry with Who Knows and her pony companion in tow.
“Then when they paid up with Wolfgang it was a godsend, it completely changed things in our favour. Now I just hope I’ve done my job!”
Who Knows, a six-year-old mare by noted staying sire Redwood, initially made steady progress with a maiden 1600m win in May last year, followed two starts later by another in her first attempt at a middle-distance.
Her career gathered real momentum six months ago as she put together two wins and a second, inspiring Quinn to put his toe in the water with a trip to the Grand National carnival in August. Designs on the New Zealand Cup were confirmed with a second placing in the Gr.3 Winter Cup and it was all systems go when she won the Egmont Cup over 2100m at Hawera six weeks ago.
A maintenance trial and fourth placing in the Feilding Cup a fortnight ago set Who Knows up for her return to Riccarton and while choosing his words carefully, Quinn exudes quiet confidence that the mare racing in the name of the Fast Horses Syndicate can do the business.
“Touch wood, everything has gone well,” he says. “I know you don’t find out until you try, but I think she’ll get the two miles.
“She handles wet ground well and it will help her if there’s any rain about – the forecast is for something on Thursday, so I’ll be praying for that. They tell me the new irrigation system at Riccarton is working well, and that can only help us too I reckon.”
Kate Hercock will continue her association with Who Knows, bidding to become the 10th female jockey in the last 15 editions to claim New Zealand Cup honours.
As for the hardest for Who Knows to beat, Quinn has a wary eye out for his near-neighbour and sometimes mentor Kevin Myers, whose trio includes impressive Metropolitan Trophy winner Just Charlie. His penalty-free win also positions him well with 1.5 kilos less than he carried on the first day.
“There’s no-one better than Mr Myers in getting a horse ready for these races,” he cautions. “I just hope that on the day I can match him.”
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