The all-important NZ Cup meeting box draws
Peter Fenemor • November 6th, 2025 4:18 PM • 4 min read
Just one length separated the four Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup 525m heat winners, which sets up an intriguing clash for next Thursday’s $100,000 final at Group 1 level.
The current 29.50 Addington 525m track record holder Paw Bradley delivered the 30.28 heat quickest time for Craig Roberts.
Joining him the final includes three Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie prepared chasers.
The previous Dave and Jean Fahey training partnership mentored an outstanding 11 NZ Cup winners, dating back to 2006 when Winsome Show became their first NZ Cup winner.
The high-flying Fahey/Wyllie combination provided the other three NZ Cup heat winners with Opawa Hass (30.31), Original Warrior (30.32) and Therapy Tex (30.34).
Joining the heat winners in the decider are the heat second placegetters Yuki (Garry Cleeve), Paw Earnest (Craig Roberts), Let Him Cook (Matt Roberts & Jack Johnson), and Perfect Harry (Dylan Voyce).
The box draw for the Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup 525m final (Race 9, 7.54pm) is:
1 Let Him Cook Matt Roberts & Jack Johnson
2 Opawa Hass Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
3 Yuki Garry Cleeve
4 Paw Earnest Craig Roberts
5 Perfect Harry Dylan Voyce
6 Original Warrior Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
7 Therapy Tex Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
8 Paw Bradley Craig Roberts
Reserves
9 Taieri Gout Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
10 Stuck Throttle Garry Cleeve
The straight-out sprinters completed their four The Homekill Guys Galaxy Sprint 295m semifinals with Fahey and Wyllie dominating, providing all four winners.
Opawa Mocha skipped through his semi in a swift 16.53, followed by Opawa April 16.73, Everest Sky 16.79 and Dingo Night 16.83.
Also returning for the Group 1 $40,000 final will be the semifinal runners-up Hadwin Bale (Craig Roberts), Mitcham Jessie (Johnathon McInerney), Lady Daisy (Bruce Dann) and Priority (Garry Cleeve).
The biggest shock emerging from the Galaxy Sprint semis was the warmly favoured Jerry Cola missing the final. He was badly checked during the early rush for positions.
The box draw for The Homekill Guys Galaxy Sprint 295m final (Race 7, 7.12pm) is:
1 Dingo Night Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
2 Everest Sky Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
3 Mitcham Jessie Jonathon McInerney
4 Priority Garry Cleeve
5 Hadwin Bale Craig Roberts
6 Opawa Mocha Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
7 Opawa April Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
8 Lady Daisy Bruce Dann
Reserves
9 Smoking Ivan Matt Roberts & Jack Johnson
10 Jerry Cola Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
The third Group 1 race during the NZ Cup meeting will see the stayers contesting the $40,000 Rose & Thistle New Zealand Stayers Cup over the 732m distance.
A number of the contenders warmed up for this assignment when contesting a 732m event during Wednesday’s meeting.
The potent stayer Chief Dribble cruised to his effortless 43.07 win for Roberts and Johnson, building a 6.25 length margin over the Fahey/Wyllie prepared Opawa Shirley.
The Roberts and Johnson mentored current Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar (779m) title holder Opawa Corban was sighted doing his best work at the business end of the race when he finished resolutely for his third placing.
The box draw for the Rose & Thistle New Zealand Stayers Cup 732m (Race 11, 8.41pm) is:
1 Box Vacant
2 Opawa Corban Matt Roberts & Jack Johnson
3 Chief Dribble Matt Roberts & Jack Johnson
4 Opawa Louise Matt Roberts & Jack Johnson
5 Maestro Mojito Matt Roberts & Jack Johnson
6 Sweet And Sassy Jaime Pruden
7 Opawa Shirley Dave Fahey & Katie Wyllie
8 Grande Vue Ace Bob Pringle
The first race on the 12-race card jumps at 5.09pm.
