Racing: Bondy bowls NZ Cup rivals over

Auckland Reactor has tightened his stranglehold on New Zealand Cup favouritism without setting a hoof on the race track over the weekend.

The superstar pacer has caved in from $3.50 to $2.50 courtesy of poor performances and some bad luck suffered by key rivals for the $1 million Cup on November 10.

The rot started on Friday night when defending Cup champion Changeover was a late scratching from the Spring Cup before his stablemate Awesome Armbro put on a rodeo performance in that feature, won by outsider Power Of Tara.

Then at Oamaru yesterday Interdominion champion Mr Feelgood disappointed for the second time in as many weeks when he was a battling fourth after a perfect trip in the Hannon Memorial.

That left question marks over whether he is as good now as he was during his amazing Australian campaign last season.

He has drifted to $10 for the Cup, losing second favouritism to Monkey King, who was vastly superior to him yesterday.

Monkey King galloped away and was giving the leaders 50m at the 2400m but produced a stunning last 800m surge to finish second to runaway winner Bondy, who continues to firm, now into $15 for the New Zealand Cup and looking a more serious chance in the great race with every start.

Bondy, well rated by David Butt, was the winter star at Addington but many expected him to wilt once the big guns returned.

But he has taken the next step and looks a better pacer than when he finished sixth in the Cup two years ago.

He downed most of the South Island's leading Cup chances by outsprinting them at Addington 10 days ago and used his manners and stamina to run them off their feet yesterday.

Whether he has the absolute class to win a New Zealand Cup remains a huge question but he at least has the manners which could be lacking from Auckland Reactor and Monkey King.

Meanwhile, the chance of three-time Interdominion winner Blacks A Fake crossing the Tasman for the Cup appears to be waning.

His trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen is reportedly leaning toward staying home for the Miracle Mile rather than bringing the $3 million pacer to Addington and he has drifted from $6 to $8 for the great race.

One Australian who is definitely making the trip is dual Interdominion placegetter Karloo Mick.

He is over a recent setback and will start his New Zealand Cup campaign in the most unlikely of places.

His first start for the season will be in a $3000 race at a non-TAB meeting at Eugowra, which is west of Sydney on the Central Tablelands, next Monday.

NZ Cup market: $2.50, Auckland Reactor; $7, Monkey King; $8 Changeover, Blacks A Fake; $9, Kiwi Ingenuity; $10, Mr Feelgood; $15, Bondy; $18, Smoken Up; $21, All Tiger, Karloo Mick; $31, Tennis Ball, Awesome Armbro, Be Good Johnny, Lombo Pocket Watch.