Guerin: Nat Rasmussen makes 'logical' leap to Auckland Cup fave

24 May 2022 | Michael Guerin
Logo

The sulky-go-round leading into Friday’s $400,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup has stopped with Natalie Rasmussen to now drive hot favourite Self Assured.

And that puts the great race’s most successful ever driver, Tony Herlihy, on Spankem, the horse Rasmussen drove to second the last time the Cup was run.

The Cup, Auckland harness racing’s biggest prize, will have its first May running this Friday as the final feature of a huge autumn after Harness Racing New Zealand radically altered its feature-race calendar.

CLICK: FULL COLUMN IN THE FORUM AT THETROTS.COM.AU

 

Related News

12 May 2026
The Janitor knocking loudly on Grand Circuit door
The Janitor produced nine wins, four placings and more than $200,000 from 15 starts in an impressive season in 2025. But, it could have been even bigger. The talented gelding was no further than a neck from the winner in the Blacks A Fake, Sunshine Sprint and The Rising Sun. An eighth placing in the...
12 May 2026
Hollywood heading to Wagga
THE big brute of Australia’s three-year-old ranks Hollywood Strip is ready for a racetrack return. Trainer-driver Brad Hewitt confirmed the NSW Derby winner would resume in a heat of the Nutrien 3YO series at Wagga on Friday week. The $100,000 final is at Wagga on May 30. “We managed to get...
12 May 2026
Wharton: Pastor Dunbar delivers McCluskey his Group 1 dream
It’s the goal of every breeder and owner to have that first Group 1 winner, and for Lancaster horseman Kevin McCluskey it has taken 50 years of investment in the sport to reach those heights. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL COLUMN
12 May 2026
Swayzee's New Zealand campaign concludes
New South Wales champion pacer Swayzee’s New Zealand campaign concluded last Friday night in Auckland with a brave third behind up and coming kiwi superstar Got The Chocolates in the Group 1 Messenger Stakes. It seems that as he gets older, Swayzee is showing increased gate speed and was chased...
12 May 2026
Hillier happy as Triedtotellya tunes up for the Inter Dominion
Triedtotellya has had his last start before the upcoming Inter Dominion series in Brisbane. His most recent effort was in Launceston on Sunday night, where he claimed the $20,000 Ladbrokes Launceston Mile (1680m) when sent out as the $1.24 favourite. From a second-row draw, trainer-driver Rohan Hillier...
Click for more