An upset win over his star stablemate has given Mighty Flying Mac a massive jump in the New Zealand Cup rankings.
The 6yr-old was languishing in 31st place last week but now finds himself in 16th spot after his powerful finish in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on Sunday.
Mighty Flying Mac now sits on the fringe of a New Zealand Cup start with eight weeks to go, although there are plenty of chances for those rivals tucked in behind him to slide past in the seven key lead-up events between now and the second Tuesday in November.
The Hannon was not the only event to cause a change in the rankings during the past week. Saveapatrol was withdrawn with a tendon injury that will put him out for up to 12 months, and Ballindooley has been retired.
''He's been trying to recover from old injuries, but he's obviously not coping, so he's done his dash,'' trainer Graeme Anderson said.
''It's a pity that he got hurt. When he was at his best, he was a contender, but it's been a long time coming, I suppose.''
Anderson has also lost nine-race winner Starsky's Dream, who was sold to the United States last week.
Major Bubbles was the third withdrawal in the past seven days, leaving 35 still in the hunt for a New Zealand Cup start.
The Greg and Nina Hope-trained Mossdale Conner (14th to 13th) has swapped places with stablemate Jason Rulz after his third in the Hannon.
A fourth placing in the Hannon for former age-grade star Bettor Dream has also given him a boost, from 34th to 27th.
Three trotters have come out of the rankings for the Dominion, including the Phil Williamson-trained Monty Python, who will be given another few months before taking on the country's top trotters.
The effects of a 3yr-old season that went deep into August has ended Speeding Spur's dig at the Dominion, while the evergreen Live The Dream also drops out.
Sheemon solidified his spot at two on the Dominion rankings with his Ordeal Cup win. Clover Don is the other mover in the top 15, going from 13th to 12th with his second in the Ordeal.
Quite A Moment's second placing in the Ordeal Cup was enough for her to jump seven spots to 21st.
Rankings. -
New Zealand Cup
Christen Me 1, Arden Rooney 2, Smolda 3, Franco Nelson 4, Franco Ledger 5, Sky Major 6, Ohoka Punter 7, Tiger Tara 8, Corzin Terror 9, Easy On The Eye 10, Venus Serena 11, Lancewood Lizzie 12, Mossdale Conner 13, Jason Rulz 14, Forever Gold 15, Mighty Flying Mac 16, Belkmyster 17, Te Kawau 18, Dalton Bromac 19, Alleluia 20, Choise Achiever 21, Messini 22, Bit Of A Legend 23, Mach Beauty 24, Chancellor Cullen 25, Brilliant Strike 26, Bettor Dream 27, Quick As A Trick 28, Lewy Risk 29, Jivin Cullen 30, Ideal Success 31, Mach's Gladiator 32, Provocative Prince 33, No Doctor Needed 34, Delightful Dash 35. Withdrawn: Zakspatrol, Ballindooley, Major Bubbles, Saveapatrol.
Dominion Trot
Stent 1, Sheemon 2, Master Lavros 3, Used To Me 4, Kincaslough 5, Alley Way 6, Vincennes 7, One Over Da Moon 8, Jag's Invasion 9, King Denny 10, Habibti 11, Clover Don 12, Daryl Boko 13, Prime Power 14, Maori Time 15, Realmein 16, Kyvalley Blur 17, Springbank Sam 18, Royal Aspirations 19, Overanova 20, Quite A Moment 21, Boizel 22, Valmagne 23, Cool Cobber 24, Uncas 25, Monbet 26, Majestic Time 27, Escapee 28, Harrysul 29, Sol Invictus 30, Al Bundy 31, Leanne's Boy 32, Waterloo Sunset 33, Wingsonhai 34, Prestine 35. Withdrawn: Jaccka Justy, Live The Dream, Monty Python, Speeding Spur.
