NZ Cup favourite cuts winning odds
Nymph Monte has confirmed his New Zealand Cup favouritism following a dominant display at Riccarton yesterday.
The Grant Nicholson-trained stayer was a 21⁄2-length winner of the Listed Gold Club Metropolitan Trophy (2500m).
On the back of the easy win, bookmakers moved Nymph Monte from $5 into $2.60 for the New Zealand Cup next Saturday.
‘‘When you look at it, that was the perfect trial really,’’ Nicholson said.
‘‘He’ll have a quiet week, we’ll just stretch his legs then all go for next week.’’
Nymph Monte is now two from two in the South Island following his Listed win in the Spring Classic at Riccarton on October 22.
The Opak-based trainer already knows what his share of yesterday’s $43,750 winning stake will be spent on.
‘‘I blew the motor up in my truck coming out of the Oamaru races the other day. She just went bang,’’ Nicholson said.
Nymph Monte hit the line strongly in the Metropolitan and Nicholson is confident the step up in distance to 3200m will not be an issue.
Meanwhile, Hastings trainer John Bary picked up the first of a race-torace double when Lady Zafira was an upset winner in the Listed Yesberg Insurance Services Pegasus Stakes.
But even Barry was quick to pay tribute to grand galloper King Montrose who was euthanised down in the race.
Barry said Lady Zafira would be heading home today and there was no after breaking set plan for her, but a tilt at the Group I Telegraph was not being ruled out of consideration.
Barry’s second win came Tim in a rating 85 mile.
The loss of King Montrose, who won 15 races for more than $300,000 in stakes, was a bitter blow for trainer Neill Ridley and his connections.
King Montrose, a popular sprinter with a strong following in the South Island, was hit hard with weight in recent years but still gave his all every start.
Nothing went the way of First Serve, a $1.65 favourite in the Pegasus, and she had to settle for fourth – easily her worst result in seven starts that have included five wins and a second.
She was hampered on the bend and then struggled for a run and momentum in the final stages.
First Serve’s jockey Sam Wynne told connections the mare was accidently struck twice by another rider’s whip.
Trainers Michael and Matt Pitman have First Serve as a dual acceptor in Group III races, the Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders Stakes (1400m) and the Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m) on Wednesday but Michael Pitman said the Breeders Stakes was the most likely option. with Tiger