The staying ranks in New Zealand are taking a hammering.
A review of the group and listed races has resulted in the downgrade of the Wellington Cup - which only returned to 3200m this year - to group 3. It joins the New Zealand Cup, which has been at group 3 level since 2009. The Auckland Cup dodged a potential downgrade from group 1 status this year pending a review of staying races throughout the region overseen by the Asian Pattern Committee. In response, both the Wellington and New Zealand Cups have been boosted to $250,000 this season. The question Racing Matters has is whether this extra cash will encourage any top staying types - be it New Zealand-trained horses racing in Australia or Australian-trained horses - to make the trip. We guess the proof will be in the quality of horses who contest both races but we won't be holding our breath too long.
... and firing up
No such problems in the harness racing staying ranks (although distance isn't such a big player in the standardbred world). The field for the New Brighton Cup tonight might be small, but it also packs quite a punch now that the All Stars Stables have rolled out Smolda, Have Faith In Me and Lazarus. Toss in Locharburn and Christen Me - well, most of the field, to be honest - and it's a lip-smacking prospect of things to come in the next seven to eight weeks. This race might not decide the New Zealand Cup winner, but it could have a big say in which horses bypass the cup and focus on the Interdominions in Perth, so it's well worth tuning in at 8.13pm tonight.
Just like the cricketers
The new wonder horse of Hong Kong did it again at Sha Tin on Sunday night. Pakistan Star stumbled out of the gates, settled at the back of the field before jockey Matthew Chadwick set him alight down the middle of the track to fly past his rivals. His last 400m was timed at around 21.44 seconds - about as quick as you can get at Sha Tin. He has the speed of Mohammad Amir but with the will to win. Just kidding, Pakistan's talented left-armer is trying his hardest now.
With the money as good as it is in Hong Kong, you wonder if we will ever see him outside Sha Tin, but perhaps a race at The Championships in Sydney in the autumn could pique the connections' interest.
Lazy Fiver
McCullum was not able to raise the triple (wins, not century) at Awapuni two weeks ago, finishing seventh. Justin and Lynn Smith are rarely without a useful trotter and Kingdom Come looks capable of winning race 9 at Addington tonight.
