Gus NZ after winning the 2025 Dominion.
INTER Dominion trotting champion Gus is primed to headline a strong Australian raid on New Zealand's biggest trotting races.
Despite last week’s cruel injury setback to wonder mare Keayang Zahara, there are still at least five Australian trotters being set for the huge Group 1 double - Dominion Trot and NZ Trotting free-for-all – at Addington in November.
Gus shot to stardom when he brilliantly won both races last year.
Connections have had two major targets since, becoming the first Queensland-trained trotter to win their hometown Brisbane Inter Dominion final, which Gus did last month, and return to defend the crowns in NZ.
“Gussy boy is working super,” trainer Chantal Turpin told NZ’s Trackside. “He’s only about three weeks away from a trial.”
With Keayang Zahara sidelined, Gus is a commanding $2.60 favourite for the $NZ500,000 Dominion Trot on November 10.
Gus is one of three possible NZ raiders for Turpin and her husband, Pete McMullen.
Their Miracle Mile runner-up The Janitor is also three weeks from a trial.
“He’ll have a few goes from the standing-start before he returns (to racing),” Turpin said.
“Raffie Jay is our other possibility. She’s 50-50 at this stage. We’ll see how she goes in her next few runs.”
The three-year-old trotting filly tackles Tuesday’s 3YO Springboard Trotting final at Albion Park.
Inter Dominion runner-up Gotfeelingsyouknow and stablemate Lovemeto are also being set for NZ by Victorian trainer Chris Svanosio.
“They’ve both come back from their Queensland trip in great order, are working well and will trial in the next fortnight,” Svanosio said.
The Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint at Melton on October 17 looms as D-Day for the NZ plans.
In contrast, another star Victorian mare Rockinwithawttitude, who ran fourth in the Brisbane Inter Dominion final, will have an extended NZ trip.
“We’re planning to take her earlier to race at Kaikoura (November 2) before the Addington races,” trainer-driver David Miles said.
“She had three weeks off after Brisbane, seems super and will trial either this week or next.
“We’ve got to get some standing-start practice before NZ.”
Team Lee could still be part of the NZ features despite its two headline mares Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini being sidelined.
“It’s still a genuine option with Jilliby Dreamlover. She trialled okay at Terang last Tuesday and if we’re happy with her at crunch time, we’ll take her,” co-trainer Paddy Lee said.
Team Lee is also weighing-up an NZ trip with boom three-year-old trotter Keayang Bazlenka, but how he performs in the upcoming Vicbred series and Victoria Trotters’ Derby will decide it.
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
Photo courtesy HRNZ/Race Images NZ
