The gamble of a lifetime paid a history-defying dividend when Australian Kerryn Manning became the first woman to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington in Christchurch today.
Just a week after compatriot Michelle Payne became the first female to ride the winner of the Melbourne Cup, Manning went one better as she trained and drove Arden Rooney to win the greatest pacing race in Australasia.
"Everybody saw what Michelle did and it was great because it was on the biggest stage in racing," Manning said earlier this week.
"So I have had people say it would be great for me to do the same thing in the New Zealand Cup because it is one of the biggest races in the world."
After Arden Rooney's brave win at Kaikoura last Monday she was always a genuine shot.
Manning trained and drove Arden Rooney to win the Hunter Cup, Victoria's equivalent of the New Zealand Cup, in February and has won group ones in Norway as well as at Addington (Knight Pistol) and Alexandra Park (La Coocaracha) before.
She was one of the pioneers of female equality in Australian harness racing which has far surpassed anything seen in New Zealand.
Manning held off Mark Purdon driving Smolda, while Ricky May third driving Mossdale Conner came third at Addington Raceway.
The win takes Arden Rooney past $1million in stakes, much of that will be reinvested back into the New Zealand racing industry as his owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth, are prolific buyers of Kiwi racing stock.
And he looks certain to return next season to defend his title, which would suit Manning just fine.
"That was pretty amazing and we would love to bring him back," she beamed.
"This is his sort of racing he loves, and we to do too."
