Changeover’s elevation from champion juvenile to superstar open class performer is all but complete following the five-year-old’s resounding $1 million New Zealand Cup win at Addington on Tuesday.
The 2007 Australasian Breeders Crown 3YO champion added Australasia’s richest event to his feature race booty when he outclassed New Zealand’s best open class performers.
The Geoff Small-trained, David Butcher-driven champ came with a scorching run along the passing lane to power to victory in the 3,200-metre standing start event.
He had access to the passing lane after Butcher handed up to Baileys Dream halfway through the race after the pair both came with a searching runs around the field after initially settling near the rear of the field.
Baileys Dream attempted to steal a march on Changeover straightening for home, but it was evident 300m out that the son of In The Pocket had plenty up his sleeve.
Once given his head, Changeover accelerated swiftly, assumed the lead inside the 150m and raced away for a commanding 1-3/4 lengths win in a 1:58.8 mile rate. The last half was covered in 56.4, which included a 27.3-second final quarter.
Baileys Dream held on for second, two lengths in front of Monkey King with roughie Zenad a gap back in fourth spot.
Changeover’s win propelled him to second spot in the 2008/09 Barastoc Grand Circuit table. The five points he picked up for victory in the third event of the 16-race series edged him to within five points of defending champion Blacks A Fake, who has also won the first two races on this season’s schedule.
He is likely to be offered the chance to further close the gap on Blacks A Fake with Harold Park almost certain to offer the entire an invite to contest the $500,000 Group 1 SEW-Eurodrive Miracle Mile on Friday, November 28.
The New Zealand Cup was one of many features on New Zealand harness racing’s biggest day of the year.
The appearance of Mark Purdon's boom four-year-old Auckland Reactor in the Junior Free-For-All headlined the undercard and the budding superstar didn’t disappoint. He made it 13 wins from 13 starts with a soft 1:58.1 win over 1950m.
(Harness Racing Australia)