Trio of Kiwi-trained horses take their Melbourne Cup place
Trackside.co.nz • November 3rd, 2024 1:41 PM
Three New Zealand-trained horses are set to line up in the 164th running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington in Melbourne on Tuesday.
After the 2023 edition of the great race was run without a New Zealand-trained stayer, this year features two horses emerging from the Waikato thoroughbred nursery and one from Byerley Park at Karaka in south Auckland.
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Three-time Group 1 winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart is trained by the husband-and-wife partnership of Graeme and Debbie Rogerson at Tuhikaramea just west of Hamilton, and Positivity is prepared by Andrew Forsman at Cambridge. Trust In You, who secured his spot in the 24-horse field as number 24, is trained by Bruce Wallace and former jockey Grant Cooksley at Byerley Park New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup winner Mahrajaan was withdrawn from contention on Saturday.
While top ex-pat Kiwi jockey James McDonald won’t be riding in the race, Kiwi jockeys will be well represented by Mick Dee aboard Sharp ‘N’ Smart, and Mark du Plessis taking the ride on Trust In You.
Alongside the three New Zealand-trained runners, Kovalica is another advertisement for the New Zealand thoroughbred, having been prepared at Curraghmore Stud near Te Awamutu.
As of 11am on Sunday, 3 November, Vauban – who finished 14th in last year’s Melbourne Cup – and Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo were contesting favouritism.
New Zealand-trained horses:
#6 – Sharp ‘N’ Smart – Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
#21 – Positivity – Andrew Forsman, Cambridge
#24 – Trust In You, Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley, Byerley Park (Karaka).
New Zealand-bred horses:
#5 – Kovalica (Ocean Park (sire)-Vitesse (dam), bred by Nearco Stud Ltd)
#6 – Sharp ‘N’ Smart (Redwood-Queen Margaret, bred by G Harvey)
#21 – Positivity (Almanzor-Pussy O’Reilly, bred by Sir Patrick & Justine, Lady Hogan & P J Walker)
#24 – Trust In You (Sweynesse-Shinko Bay, bred by Explosive Breeding Ltd)
Jockeys with New Zealand links:
#6 Sharp ‘N’ Smart - Michael Dee
#24 Trust In You - Mark du Plessis
What you need to know:
• The 3200-metre race starts at 5pm on Tuesday.
• The Melbourne Cup field is available at tab.co.nz. Extra markets such as Top 5 and Top 10 are available at tab.co.nz/racing/extras.
• Build-up to the race will be broadcast on trackside.co.nz, both Trackside channels, free to air on Freeview and on TVNZ 1 from 4.30pm.
