Start is paramount for forgotten trotter
Garrick Knight - Raceform • January 8th, 2026 10:26 AM • 4 min read
It’s fair to say Matty White doesn’t quite know what to expect with Paramount Kiwi at Cambridge on Friday night.
The forgotten horse of the northern trotting ranks is third-up from a year-long break between races and his trainer admits it’s hard to get a line on just where he is at.
“I was a little bit disappointed with his second-up run, but hopefully it was just a case of needing it after a long time away from the races,” White told RaceForm.
He battled into seventh behind Pantani in that Christmas Eve run, a fortnight after what turned out to be a non-event resumption at Alexandra Park after breaking.
That first run was 53 weeks after he contested the New Zealand Trotting Derby at Addington, where he finished seventh.
“He got sick on the way back from Christchurch after being down there a month for the Derby and slot race. So we sort of thought we’d give him a big spell – six months off – which we did.
“He’d only had three starts that campaign but has never been a robust horse and I felt he was still on the weaker side. Even now, he doesn’t look a hell of a lot stronger for that break.”
Paramount Kiwi’s spring return was then delayed due to a niggly foot complaint.
“On his way back, he just had a bit of trouble with a foot abscess that took a while to identify. I wasn’t quite sure what it was, and when it seemed like it was coming right, he would go a wee bit sore again. It was pretty deep-seated and took a while to draw out.”
It’s been plain sailing since that point, though White feels like the horse needs to step up this week and remind everyone what he is capable of.
His best was on display when he won the Listed $50,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million as a juvenile in late 2023, completing a hat-trick of wins to start his career. He then won the equivalent race for three-year-olds six months later, a race which carried a $75,000 stake.
That form more than stacks up with anything he meets on Friday night in the $15,000 Night Of Champions Tickets On Sale Trot, though there is a big red flag against him this week.
“He’s off 35 metres, which is not ideal over 2200 metres, but he did step away quickly in both of his recent starts.
“His work has been good, and I pulled a blood off him after his last start and everything was fine, so there shouldn’t be many excuses.”
White has one other drive on the night, Bettor Reaction for his father Les in the $15,000 Hire A Venue At Cambridge Raceway Pace.
“He just got a bit sick heading into the Golden Gait Final and wasn’t quite ready. But he was better again yesterday (Sunday) and I think he’ll be a live chance on Friday night.”
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