Gus winning the 2025 NZ Trotting FFA
QUEENSLAND trotter Gus arrived in New Zealand a bundle of potential, but goes home as a genuine superstar.
For so long gifted but moody and enigmatic, the six-year-old arrived on the biggest stage, not once but twice.
Gus followed his sparkling last-to-first win in Tuesday’s Group 1 Dominion Trot with a completely contrasting display of strength to win today’s Group 1 NZ Trotting free-for-all at Addington.
Both wins proved, albeit in different ways, he was clearly the best trotter at NZ Cup Week.
And only the awesome Victorian mare Keayang Zahara could challenge him for the crown as the best trotter in this part of the world.
But fans may have to wait a while before Gus and Keayang Zahara clash for the first time.
“I don’t think we’ll go to Victoria (early next year),” driver Pete McMullen said. “As it stands now, he’s had this big trip away and we’ll get him home and weigh things up.”
McMullen said he was more nervous today than in the Dominion three days earlier.
“There was no pressure of expectations on Tuesday, but he’d shown what he could do going into this race,” he said.
“It was such a different race, too, not as suitable for him, so I had to drive him differently.
“I didn’t think I could sit back, but so I made the early move to get around them and sit outside the leader.
“I was surprised I had her beaten on the home bend, then the long (home) straight seemed to go forever, but he dug in and held some very good trotters off to win again.”
Star Kiwi veterans Muscle Mountain and Oscar Bonavena ran on well to fill the minor placings.
Young Aussie mare Jilliby Ballerini started a hot favourite and led, but failed to back-up and ran way below her best.
PHOTO: HRNZ/Race Images
